Indian Armed Forces Contingent Departs for Multilateral Exercise ZAPAD 2025

In preparation of the ZAPAD 2025 military exercise, an Indian Armed Forces contingent of 65 persons left the Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, in Russia to take part in the exercise which will be held between 10 and 16 September 2025. These consist of 57 Indian Army personnel, 7 Indian Air Force personnel and 1 Indian Navy personnel, under a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment. The drill will center on promoting military collaboration, interoperability and offer a forum through which the armies taking part in the exercise share strategies and methods of conventional warfare and counter terrorism operations. The drill is likewise expected to boost defense partnership between India and Russia and multinational preparedness to fight.

Key Points in Detail

Background and Context

• ZAPAD 2025 training is planned between 10 and 16 September 2025 on Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, Russia.

• The contingent of the Indian Armed Forces includes 65 people:

• The assistance of Air Force and Navy enabled 57 Army men of KUMAON Regiment.

• The major emphasis is on enhancing collective operations and interoperability across different fields of military.

Exercise Focus

• It will involve combined company-level operations in an open terrain.

• Activities will include:

• Tactical exercises and special arms skills.

• Combined planning and counter-terrorism.

• It is a good chance to combine new technologies and evaluate the multinational combat potential.

Repercussion to the India-Russia Defense Relations.

• The strategic defense relationship between India and Russia is enhanced by participation in ZAPAD 2025.

• This drill builds unity and strengthens the purpose of defending each other and collaborating.

• It also facilitates capacity building activities of both nations in operations together and technological integration.

Conclusion

ZAPAD 2025 exercise will provide the Indian Armed Forces with a possibility to train joint operational capacities and to interact with multinational forces. Raising the level of the India-Russia defense cooperation, this participation emphasizes the significance of cooperation in the global combat preparation. It also illuminates the increasing participation of India in the multilateral defense activities.