Moscow launched a metro train decorated with Chinese motifs for the Lunar New Year on Wednesday amid strengthening relations with one-time rival China.

An investigation by RFE/RL’s Schemes has found that companies at least partially owned by the Chinese state are feeding critical minerals to Russian suppliers to manufacturers of weapons the Kremlin has used to pummel Ukraine since its all-out invasion nearly three years ago.

Russia is studying how China is building military-industrial systems, co-author of report from state-backed think tank tells Russian media.

Once a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, China banned the activity in 2021, citing financial and environmental concerns. Russia is also becoming increasingly dependent on its neighbor at a time when its war-time economy is being choked by sanctions, with no end in sight.

Moscow launched a special metro train decorated with traditional Chinese symbols on Wednesday to mark the Lunar New Year

As part of deepening Russia-China ties, Moscow hosting series of events to celebrate Chinese New Year - Anadolu Ajansı

Russian elites are growing increasingly concerned about the dominance of a pro-China clan within the Kremlin and Beijing's "colonial" attitude towards Moscow.

Celebrations mark Lunar New Year in Moscow reflecting close relations with China

Russia's exit from Syria will disrupt supplies to its forces in Africa. But as Moscow's fortunes in the resource-rich Continent wane, Beijing's are rising

In December, Russia reportedly sold its stakes in certain Kazakh uranium deposits to Chinese-owned companies. This involved Kazakhstan's nuclear resources company, Kazatomprom, and Russia's Rosatom transferring interests to Chinese entities, National Security News reported.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is in discussions with the Indian government for a 'group-free visa regime,' allowing a specified number of tourists travelling together in a group to enter Russia without a visa.

Video. Moscow celebrated the Lunar New Year with vibrant festivities, reflecting the strong relationship between Russia and China.