Classified document suggests Beijing did not respond to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner request for weapons in early 2023.

As reported by the Financial Times, this is evidenced by leaked classified documents of the US Department of Defence.

According to one of the published Pentagon documents, representatives from the mercenary group – led by Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin – reportedly "sought munitions and equipment" from China in "early 2023."

But previously unseen intelligence, first reported by the Financial Times, claims that in early January, China "had not sent [Wagner] any weapons, not even for testing, and had no contact with [Wagner] regarding weapons deliveries."

As the FT writes, "Wagner's" request to China indicates that China is considering supplying Russia with lethal arms.

The Pentagon's "leaks" also mention successful examples of Wagner's PMC acquiring weapons from Moscow's other allies – Belarus and Syria.

According to one of the documents, Belarus "already delivered 50% of unspecified weapons promised" by early January and offered to send Wagner 300,000 VOG-17 grenade launcher rounds. Wagner also bought six SPG-9 grenade launchers and 180 grenades in Syria at an unspecified time.

And in Türkiye, Wagner sought drones, electronic warfare systems, counter-battery systems and howitzer artillery. Their Turkish contacts informed Wagner they could not export some of the requested weapons and equipment, such as howitzers, counter-battery systems and some counter-drone weapons.

Wagner was founded in 2014 by Prigozhin, a caterer known as "Putin's chef" for his work supplying Kremlin banquets following Russia's initial covert invasion of eastern Ukraine. The group operated in several countries where Russia has important interests – Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and Ukraine. They have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, the Wagnerites took part in massacres of civilians. Prisoners from Russian prisons are currently being recruited into the group.

Late last year, the White House released US intelligence photos of Russian rail cars entering North Korea (Ukr), picking up a cargo of missiles and returning to Russia, presumably at the behest of Wagner's group.