New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the former has started delivering some components of the second regiment of S-400 Triumf missile defence system to India, sources close to the matter said.
"Russia has started delivering some components of the second regiment of the S-400 missile system. Not all key parts of the regiment have been supplied yet,” news agency PTI quoted one of the sources as saying.
As per reports, the supplied components include simulators for training purposes.
The development comes at a time when there are increasing concerns over a possible delay in supplies of major military hardware to India by Russia in the wake of the crisis.
Notably, Russia had started delivering the first regiment of the missile system to India in December.
The missile system has already been deployed in a way that can cover parts of the border with China as well as the frontier with Pakistan.
It is to be noted that in October 2018, India had signed an agreement of USD 5 billion with Russia to procure five units of S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from Trump administration that the contract may invite US sanctions.
Russia has been a major supplier of military hardware to India and the two countries have been holding discussions on the kind of payment mechanisms that can work in light of Western sanctions on Moscow.
According to reports, the issue of India-Russia defence ties figured during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to India two weeks back.
Last month, Russia had said that there will be no impact of the Western sanctions against it on supply of the missile systems to India.
"As regards the S-400 deal, be rest assured that it will not be impacted in any way. It is a 100 surety," Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov had said.
Notably, the Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia over the last few days following its military invasion of Ukraine.