Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth Visits Artillery Academy in Russia, Strengthens Military Cooperation

ST. PETERSBURG (Nazrana Times): Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth visited the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in St. Petersburg during his official visit to Russia, as India and Russia continued efforts to strengthen professional military cooperation.

During his visit to the academy, General Seth interacted with faculty members and exchanged views on military training methodologies and the modernisation of artillery. The engagement focused on institutional exchanges, sharing professional experience and strengthening cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.

General Seth was also accorded the distinctive ceremonial honour of firing the traditional cannon at the historic Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg engagement formed part of General Seth’s official three-day visit to Russia from September 16 to 18, 2026. According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the visit was aimed at strengthening the longstanding India-Russia defence partnership and expanding military-to-military cooperation.

During the wider visit, General Seth held engagements with senior Russian defence and military officials. Discussions covered professional military cooperation, training, capability development and opportunities for greater interaction between the Indian and Russian armies.

The visit highlighted the continuing emphasis placed by both countries on Army-to-Army engagement, institutional exchanges and the sharing of professional experience as part of their broader defence relationship