INDRA 2026 India-Russia Naval Exercise Ends at Vladivostok

The India-Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA 2026 has concluded, and the Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri sailed out of Vladivostok in the Russian Federation on 20 October 2026. The drill was conducted between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy, written as RuFN in the Ministry of Defence statement, and both sides described the engagement as a success.

Harbour phase first

INDRA 2026 was organised in two parts. The first was a harbour phase at Vladivostok. It brought senior officers of the two navies together for discussions, took sailors across to each other's ships on cross-deck visits, put subject matter experts from both sides in the same room, and included operational synchronisation activities. Sports fixtures and cultural programmes ran alongside, so crews could meet outside the professional schedule.

The sea phase

The sea phase followed. Ships practised coordinated manoeuvring, worked integrated communications, flew helicopter missions and rehearsed medical evacuation. The purpose, as the Ministry of Defence set it out, was to let the participating units run common procedures at sea, make their communication links work smoothly, and build the operational coordination and interoperability that two navies need before they can act together.

What the exercise signalled

The Ministry said the successful conclusion of the exercise reaffirmed the enduring defence and maritime partnership of India and Russia. It pointed to the value of keeping naval engagement going without a break, and said the drill reflected a shared commitment of the two navies to a secure, stable and peaceful maritime environment. Sports and cultural interactions, it added, strengthened camaraderie between the personnel of the two fleets.

Exam pointers

• Name of the exercise: INDRA, the India-Russia bilateral series; this edition is INDRA 2026.
• Indian participant: INS Sahyadri, which departed Vladivostok on 20 October 2026.
• Host country and port: Russian Federation, Vladivostok.
• Phases: a harbour phase and a sea phase.
• Sea phase serials: coordinated manoeuvring, integrated communications, helicopter operations and medical evacuation drills.