Full Breakdown
Indian Army Chief’s Three-Day Visit to Russia Highlights Deepening Defence Ties
By Drooid · · How we work
Visit Overview
From September 16 to 18 2026, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth conducted a three-day official trip to Russia. The itinerary included meetings with senior Russian military officials, a visit to the headquarters of the Russian Land Forces, and a stop at the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in St Petersburg. The delegation also received a ceremonial Guard of Honour in Moscow and paid respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Strategic Context
The trip marked the first visit by an Indian Army chief to Russia in nearly eight years and followed the September 11 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. That earlier dialogue reviewed bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, setting the stage for the senior military engagement.
Defence Cooperation Details
During the Moscow meetings, General Seth and Russian Deputy Defence Minister General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov discussed joint capability development, professional military exchanges, and avenues for expanding training cooperation. The Indian Army highlighted the importance of spare-parts availability for its Russian-origin platforms, which include substantial numbers of T-90 and T-72 tanks. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicate that Russia supplied 40 % of India’s arms imports between 2021 and 2025, making it India’s largest arms supplier in that period. The visit also underscored broader industrial collaboration, such as licensed production of Russian-origin systems and joint projects like the BrahMos missile.
Official Statements & Responses
Russian officials described the discussions as productive, emphasizing shared perspectives on contemporary military developments and the potential to strengthen training and capability-development programmes.
Implications for Defence Modernisation
The engagement comes as India seeks to sustain and modernise its Russian-origin equipment while expanding domestic defence production. By securing dialogue on spare-parts logistics and joint development, the visit aims to mitigate supply-chain risks for key armoured and artillery assets. Continued Army-to-Army interaction is expected to support professional military education, artillery modernisation, and the broader goal of indigenising critical defence components.