Army chief General Dhiraj Seth meets Russia's Deputy Defence Minister in Moscow
Synopsis
India's Army chief General Dhiraj Seth is in Moscow for a three-day visit that goes beyond protocol — meeting Russia's Deputy Defence Minister, visiting Land Forces Headquarters, and heading to a premier artillery academy in Saint Petersburg. Coming just days after Modi–Putin talks at the BRICS Summit, the trip signals a deliberate, layered reinforcement of India-Russia ties at every level of engagement.
Key Takeaways
General Dhiraj Seth , Chief of the Army Staff, met Russian Deputy Defence Minister General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in Moscow on 18 September 2026 .
Talks covered joint capability development , professional military exchanges, and expanded military-to-military engagement.
General Seth also met Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar to discuss bilateral defence cooperation measures.
He visited the Russian Land Forces Headquarters and paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier .
A visit to the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in Saint Petersburg is part of the itinerary.
The visit follows PM Modi 's meeting with President Putin at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi last week.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth met Russian Deputy Minister of Defence General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in Moscow on Friday, 18 September 2026, with discussions focused on deepening the long-standing India-Russia defence partnership through joint capability development, professional military exchanges, and expanded armed forces engagement. The meeting forms part of a three-day official visit to Russia that General Seth commenced on Wednesday.
Key Discussions in Moscow
The Indian Army confirmed the engagement, stating that the interaction with General Yevkurov 'focussed on joint capability development, professional military exchanges and avenues for enhanced military-to-military engagements.' Beyond the ministerial meeting, General Seth also held discussions with Vinay Kumar, India's Ambassador to Russia, covering bilateral cooperation and concrete measures to deepen defence ties between the two nations.
On Thursday, General Seth received a ceremonial Guard of Honour and paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow — a memorial dedicated to Soviet soldiers who fell during World War II. He also visited the Russian Land Forces Headquarters, where talks focused on deepening military cooperation, expanding training engagements, and strengthening capability development between the two armies.
Planned Visit to Saint Petersburg
As part of the visit itinerary, General Seth is scheduled to travel to Saint Petersburg, where he will visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy and engage with its leadership and faculty. The academy visit is expected to explore avenues for training cooperation and academic military exchanges.
What the Ministry of Defence Said
India's Ministry of Defence described the visit as an opportunity to 'exchange perspectives on contemporary military developments and avenues for enhancing defence cooperation.' In a statement issued ahead of the trip, the Ministry noted: 'The visit reflects the importance attached by both countries to sustained military diplomacy and Army-to-Army engagement. The interactions are expected to further deepen military cooperation and reinforce the enduring defence relationship between India and Russia.'
Broader Diplomatic Context
General Seth's visit follows closely on the heels of a high-level political engagement. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, reiterating that 'dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward in resolving ongoing conflicts.' The two leaders also discussed the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have disrupted maritime trade and threatened the safety of Indian seafarers. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's readiness to assist in peace efforts. The Army chief's Moscow visit, coming within days of that summit, signals a deliberate layering of India-Russia engagement — from the political to the operational military level.
This is the latest in a series of high-level defence exchanges between the two countries, underscoring the resilience of a bilateral relationship that has historically been India's most significant defence partnership in terms of equipment, technology transfer, and joint exercises.
Point of View
Dual-track engagement with Russia: sustaining political warmth while keeping military supply lines and technology cooperation intact, even as Western pressure on Delhi to distance itself from Moscow has intensified. The Saint Petersburg artillery academy visit is a telling detail: India still seeks to deepen, not merely maintain, defence training ties. What remains unaddressed publicly is how India balances this closeness with its growing Quad commitments and US defence partnerships — a contradiction that each such visit makes harder to paper over.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did India's Army chief visit Russia?
General Dhiraj Seth undertook a three-day official visit to Russia starting 18 September 2026 to deepen the India-Russia defence partnership and strengthen military-to-military cooperation. The visit included meetings with senior Russian defence officials and a planned visit to a military academy in Saint Petersburg.
What was discussed between General Seth and General Yevkurov?
The two senior military officials discussed joint capability development, professional military exchanges, and avenues for enhanced engagement between the Indian and Russian armed forces, according to the Indian Army.
How does this visit connect to the recent BRICS Summit?
The Army chief's visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi last week, where both leaders discussed bilateral ties and global conflicts. General Seth's Moscow trip reflects a deliberate layering of India-Russia engagement from the political to the operational military level.
Where else will General Seth visit during his Russia trip?
General Seth is scheduled to visit Saint Petersburg, where he will interact with the leadership and faculty of the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, exploring training and academic exchange opportunities.
What is India's stance on the conflicts discussed during these engagements?
Prime Minister Modi, during his BRICS meeting with Putin, reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward for resolving ongoing conflicts, including those in West Asia and the Black Sea region. India has also signalled readiness to assist in peace efforts, particularly given the impact of these conflicts on Indian seafarers.
