India-Russia defence cooperation has received fresh momentum following Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth’s three-day official visit to Russia, which concluded on September 18, 2026. The visit focused on strengthening military-to-military ties, with discussions covering capability development, professional military exchanges, training cooperation and artillery modernisation.
During his visit to Moscow, General Dhiraj Seth held discussions with senior Russian defence officials, including Deputy Minister of Defence General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. The talks focused on joint capability development, professional exchanges and opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the Indian and Russian armed forces. The engagement also covered evolving military requirements and areas where bilateral defence cooperation can be expanded.
General Seth also visited the headquarters of the Russian Land Forces, where he interacted with senior military leadership and exchanged views on contemporary military developments. Discussions included training, capability development and professional military exchanges, highlighting the importance of continued institutional engagement between the two armies.
The Army Chief’s programme also included a visit to the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in St Petersburg. During the interaction, General Seth engaged with faculty members on training methodologies and developments related to artillery modernisation. The engagement provided an opportunity to exchange professional knowledge and experience in an area that remains important to modern land warfare.
His visit included ceremonial and commemorative engagements in Moscow. General Seth received a Guard of Honour and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where he paid homage to Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War.
India and Russia have maintained extensive defence cooperation for decades, with the relationship gradually expanding beyond traditional defence equipment procurement. Cooperation today covers areas including joint production, technology, military exercises, training and capability development. Programmes such as BrahMos and regular INDRA military exercises remain important examples of the broader defence partnership.
The latest Army-level engagement comes amid continued high-level political and strategic interaction between New Delhi and Moscow. Defence remains an important pillar of bilateral relations, while India is simultaneously expanding indigenous defence production and developing partnerships with other countries.
General Dhiraj Seth’s Russia visit underlines the continuing importance of military-to-military engagement between India and Russia. The discussions in Moscow and St Petersburg indicate a focus on strengthening cooperation in training, capability development, artillery modernisation and professional exchanges, while supporting the broader evolution of the longstanding India-Russia defence partnership.