Russian submarine 'Ufa' welcomed by Indian Navy at Kochi Port
- In Reports
- 11:40 AM, Oct 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Russian submarine 'Ufa' arrived at Kochi port in Kerala on Tuesday, greeted by the Indian Navy with a warm welcome. Sharing a post on X, the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Kochi wrote, "Russian submarine #Ufa docks at #Kochi, met with a warm welcome by the #IndianNavy." The post further added, "A symbol of the unshakable friendship between India and Russia, maritime cooperation continues to sail strong."
This docking coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kazan, Russia, for the 16th BRICS Summit. A day prior, the Russian Embassy in India had also announced that a detachment from the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet, comprising the submarine Ufa and the rescue tug Alatau, was making a business visit to Kochi. According to the embassy’s statement, the visit will include a meeting with representatives of the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command, sports competitions, and the replenishment of supplies.
Kochi, a key port on Kerala’s southwestern coast, has become a regular destination for Russian naval vessels. Earlier in August, Russian warships like the missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov also visited the port, where their crews engaged in joint exercises with Indian forces, resupply operations, and sightseeing.
The visit of Ufa is part of the Pacific Fleet’s extended mission, which began in January 2024. The fleet has made various stops in countries like Sri Lanka, Iran, Qatar, and Eritrea, undertaking training exercises and operational activities.
In July, the Indian Navy participated in Russia’s Navy Day celebrations in St. Petersburg, with the INS Tabar joining the 328th Navy Day parade, reflecting the deepening defence ties between the two nations.
India and Russia have a longstanding and wide-ranging defence partnership, guided by the IRIGC-M & MTC mechanism, which involves the Defence Ministers of both nations. Bilateral exercises like INDRA and multilateral drills such as Vostok further cement this cooperation. Additionally, several joint defence projects, including the S-400 missile system, T-90 tanks, Su-30 MKI aircraft, MiG-29 jets, and BrahMos missiles, highlight their evolving collaboration from a buyer-seller model to joint research, development, and production of advanced military technology.
These ongoing interactions reflect the strong and growing maritime cooperation between India and Russia, showcasing their mutual commitment to bolstering defence and security partnerships.
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