1992 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer (IFS), Mr. Vinay Kumar, has been appointed as the new Ambassador of India to Russia.
He will replace Mr. Pavan Kapoor, an IFS officer of 1990 batch, recently appointed as the new secretary (West) in the external affairs ministry.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that he is expected to take up the new assignment shortly.
Mr. Kumar has been the ambassador to Myanmar since late 2021.
A seasoned diplomat, he has served as India’s envoy in Afghanistan as well, from 2018-20.
He is a graduate from IIT-Kharagpur and also did a stint as joint secretary (South) in the external affairs ministry and served in India’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.
It is worth mentioning here that Moscow, along with Washington, London, Tokyo and Canberra, is considered to be among the top postings for an Indian diplomat and Mr. Kumar will be responsible for steering India’s relations with Russia at a delicate juncture.
Russia, where elections were held recently, has been a longstanding partner of India, with diplomatic ties between the two countries serving as a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy.
