The Multilateral joint military exercise ZAPAD 2025 was conducted from 10 to 16 September 2025 at the Mulino Training Ground, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
The joint drills, led by Russia and Belarus, involved around 100,000 troops.
Indian Contingent:
» The Indian Armed Forces contingent comprised 65 personnel.
- The contingent comprised 57 Indian Army personnel along with 07 personnel from the Indian Air Force and 01 from the Indian Navy.
- The Indian Army contingent was led by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment along with troops from other arms and services.
Exercise ZAPAD 2025: Highlights
» The multilateral exercise ZAPAD 2025 aimed to enhance military cooperation, improve inter-operability and provide a platform for the participating armies to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures in the field of conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations.
- The exercise focused on joint company-level operations in open and flat terrain, wherein troops conducted a variety of missions, including joint planning, tactical drills, and special arms skills.
- It provided a valuable opportunity to refine joint operational capabilities, integrate emerging technologies, and operate in a multinational combat environment.
Participation in EX ZAPAD 2025 promoted defence cooperation and camaraderie between India and Russia, strengthening the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust.