Russian Navy vessels arrive in Indonesia for rare bilateral drills

Russian Navy vessels are pictured arriving in Jakarta in March 2026. (Indonesian Navy)

A delegation of Russian naval vessels has arrived in Jakarta for a rare period of bilateral naval engagement with the Indonesian Navy.

The vessels docked at the port of Tanjung Priok on 29 March as Jakarta continues to balance its defence relations with Moscow amid heightened global sensitivity over Russian military activity.

The Russian delegation comprises the Steregushchiy I-class corvette RFS Gromky , the Improved Kilo (Project 636.3) ‑class diesel‑electric submarine RFS Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky , and the ocean‑going tug Andrey Stefanov .

In a statement on 31 March, the Indonesian Navy described the visit as a symbol of growing defence ties between the two militaries.

“The presence of three Russian Federation warships in Jakarta is not merely a port call, but a strong symbol of bilateral relations,” Rear Admiral Uki Prasetia, Commander of the Indonesian Navy's Third Naval Area Command, said.

“We hope that synergies between the Indonesian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy will continue to deepen and also serve as a platform for positive cultural exchange,” he added.

All vessels in the delegation are operated by Russia's Pacific Fleet and are scheduled for a series of bilateral engagements including subject matter expert lectures, mutual ship visits, and naval drills.

The Indonesian Navy has not released more details on the naval drills, including the dates and locations where they will take place. But the service noted that the drills will revolve around communications procedures, and manoeuvring exercises.