Indian authorities have arrested seven foreign nationals – including six Ukrainian citizens and one American – on suspicion of illegally entering neighboring Myanmar to train armed groups, according to local media reports.
The detentions come amid ongoing instability in Myanmar, which has been engulfed in conflict since the 2021 Myanmar coup, when the military seized power and triggered a nationwide civil war.
Since then, pro-democracy fighters and ethnic armed groups have battled junta forces for control of large swathes of the country.
According to All India Radio, a public radio broadcaster, a court in New Delhi on March 16 ordered that the suspects be held for 11 days of interrogation.
Investigators allege the group entered India’s northeastern Mizoram state without proper permits before crossing into Myanmar.
Authorities claim the individuals trained ethnic armed groups allegedly linked to insurgent movements operating inside India.
They are also suspected of transporting a large shipment of drones from Europe into India, allegedly intended for use in Myanmar. Officials have not disclosed further details about the equipment.
India’s National Investigation Agency carried out the arrests across multiple cities, including Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata.
According to The Indian Express, the suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts against the Indian state – an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the detention of its citizens on March 13 and said it is seeking full consular access.
“As of now, there are no proven facts confirming the involvement of the aforementioned Ukrainian citizens in illegal activities on the territory of India or Myanmar,” the ministry told the journalists in an official comment, adding that Ukrainian diplomats are working with Indian authorities to clarify the circumstances.
Kyiv stressed that there is no verified evidence linking the Ukrainians to illegal activity in India or Myanmar. The ministry also said some reports in Indian and Russian media contain distorted and manipulative claims.
“Ukrainian embassy staff attended a court hearing on March 16, but were denied direct contact with the detainees. The court extended their detention until March 27,” the ministry said.
Indian officials have long expressed concern over instability along the Myanmar border, particularly in Mizoram, where ethnic ties span both sides. The region has seen an influx of refugees fleeing violence, especially from Myanmar’s Chin state.
New Delhi is currently constructing a 1,643-kilometer (1,021-mile) border fence along its frontier with Myanmar, aiming to curb cross-border insurgency and migration.