Why in news?
An Indian Armed Forces contingent departed for Russia to participate in Exercise Zapad 2025, a multilateral military drill at the Mulino Training Ground in Nizhniy. The exercise, held from 10 to 16 September 2025, aims to strengthen defence ties and improve interoperability among participating nations.
What is Exercise Zapad?
- Origin: “Zapad” means “West” in Russian. The exercise series dates back to the Soviet era, with modern iterations occurring every four years since 2009. India previously participated in 2021.
- Participants: Hosted by Russia, it involves troops from various partner countries. The Indian contingent includes 57 Army personnel, seven Air Force members and one Navy sailor, led by a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment.
- Objectives: Enhance defence cooperation and strategic trust, practise joint planning and tactical drills, and build capacity for conventional warfare and counter‑terrorism operations.
Features of the 2025 edition
- Venue: Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, Russia.
- Focus: Joint company‑level operations in open plains, tactical drills, special arms skills and exposure to emerging technologies.
- Outcome: Improved operational synergy, shared military learning and stronger defence ties between India and Russia.
Participation in Zapad 2025 underlines India’s commitment to military cooperation and the importance of adapting to multinational combat environments.