India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth, is visiting Russia from 16 to 18 September 2026 on an official tour. The Ministry of Defence announced the visit as part of efforts to strengthen military ties and defence cooperation between the two countries. The COAS will hold high-level meetings with Russian military and defence officials during his time there.
What the Visit Includes
General Dhiraj Seth will carry out several key engagements during his three-day stay in Russia. In Moscow, he will receive a ceremonial Guard of Honour and pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He will also meet Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces, to discuss matters of shared concern such as professional military cooperation and training programmes.
The COAS will visit Russia’s National Defence Control Centre in Moscow and meet with senior officials from the Russian Ministry of Defence. One of these meetings will be with Deputy Minister of Defence Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov, whose portfolio covers defence industry and procurement matters. These interactions are designed to exchange views on current military developments and explore ways to strengthen defence collaboration.
As part of the tour, General Dhiraj Seth will travel to Saint Petersburg. There, he will visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy and engage with its leadership and academic staff.
What This Means for You
This visit underscores India’s longstanding strategic partnership with Russia in defence matters. The high-level military exchanges help shape how the Indian Army cooperates with Russian counterparts on training, technology and military operations. Such visits signal the commitment both nations place on their defence relationship and can lead to deeper collaboration on issues affecting regional security.