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Russia

India and Russia: the relationship, its agreements and its disputes.

S-400 Triumf air defence system

Prelims

The S-400 Triumf, which India calls Sudarshan, is a Russian air defence system that India is buying in five squadrons under a contract of 5.43 billion dollars signed in 2018.

What changed

3 Jun 2026Briefnewly addedIndia received the fourth of five squadrons of the S-400, delayed by the war in Ukraine; the fifth is expected in 2027. The delivery shows that defence supply from Russia continues despite Western sanctions. The Hindu, 3 Jun 2026: Russia delivers fourth squadron of AI enabled S-400 air defence system (opens in a new tab)

India and Russia

Prelims and Mains

India and Russia have a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, declared a Strategic Partnership in 2000 and raised in 2010.

Two intergovernmental commissions run the relationship, one on trade and economic cooperation and one on military technical cooperation, under an annual summit.
At the December 2025 summit the two sides set a trade target of 100 billion dollars by 2030.
Since 2022 Russia has been India's largest source of crude oil; its share reached a record of nearly 52 per cent in July 2026.
The trade imbalance, payment settlement and Indians recruited into the Russian army remain irritants.

What changed

30 Sep 2026newly added
- On 11 September the two leaders met in New Delhi and discussed Ukraine and the safety of Indian seafarers in West Asia and the Black Sea.
- On 30 September the Ministry of External Affairs again warned Indians against job offers that lead to recruitment into the Russian army; the war and India's outreach to Kyiv are on the page on India between Russia and Ukraine.
- According to the Foreign Secretary, 227 Indians had been recruited into the Russian army by 31 August, of whom 139 were discharged and 51 had died.
ThePrint, 11 Sep 2026: Modi, Putin discuss Ukraine war, safety of Indian seafarers during bilateral meeting in Delhi (opens in a new tab) · News On AIR, 30 Sep 2026: India once again cautions citizens against joining the Russian army (opens in a new tab) · The Hindu, 17 Sep 2026: As U.S. readies 100% tariffs, Russia provided more than half of India's oil imports in July (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of External Affairs, 30 Sep 2026: Foreign Secretary on Indians recruited into the Russian army
24 Aug 2026Newnewly added
- On 24 August the External Affairs Minister co chaired the 27th session of the commission on trade and economic cooperation in Moscow, and cautioned against the growing trade imbalance.
- On 31 August the Prime Minister met President Putin in Bishkek on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and invited him to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The Hindu, 24 Aug 2026: Hope to see PM Modi soon as we planned: Putin tells Jaishankar (opens in a new tab) · DD India, 31 Aug 2026: PM Modi, Putin review India Russia ties, discuss regional conflicts on sidelines of SCO summit (opens in a new tab)