COAS receives rare ceremonial honour during Russia visit; discusses artillery modernisation and training with Russian military faculty
New Delhi /St. Petersburg: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth, during his ongoing official visit to Russia, received the ceremonial honour of firing the traditional cannon at the historic Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
The cannon firing is part of a long-standing tradition at the fortress. The historic Peter and Paul Fortress, founded by Peter the Great in 1703, is regarded as the place from which the history of St. Petersburg began. The fortress traditionally hosts a daily noon cannon shot, a signal tradition that has continued for more than 150 years.
Historically, cannon signals from the fortress served practical purposes, including marking the beginning and end of working hours and signalling changes in the Neva River’s water level. The modern noon shot has become one of St. Petersburg’s well-known civic traditions.
The ceremonial firing by General Dhiraj Seth added a distinctive cultural and military dimension to his official visit, reflecting the historic importance of artillery in the city and Russia’s military heritage.
During his visit to the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, the Army Chief also interacted with faculty and discussed areas of mutual interest, including military training methodologies and artillery modernisation.
The engagements form part of ongoing India-Russia military cooperation and provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange perspectives on professional military education, training and the development of modern artillery capabilities.