Ukraine Seeks Release of Citizens Arrested in India Over Alleged Myanmar Drone Activity

Ukraine Calls for Release of Citizens Arrested in India over Myanmar Drone Activity

Details of the Arrest and International Response

By Krishna N. Das and Arpan Chaturvedi

Background of the Arrest

NEW DELHI, March 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine has asked New Delhi to release six of its citizens arrested in India last week for allegedly entering a restricted border state without permits, and crossing into neighbouring Myanmar to train anti-junta ethnic groups in drone warfare.

Indian authorities arrested the six Ukrainians as well as one U.S. citizen on the night of March 13 at three different airports.

Allegations and Court Proceedings

According to a court order from Monday remanding the seven in police custody until a hearing on March 27, they are accused of travelling illegally to India’s northeastern state of Mizoram, crossing into Myanmar, and training anti‑junta ethnic armed groups in drone warfare, as well as illegally importing large consignments of drones from Europe to Myanmar via India.

Mizoram borders Myanmar's Chin State and the country has been engulfed in civil war and a humanitarian crisis since its military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.

Investigation and Security Concerns

The probe of the six Ukrainians and the American is being led by the National Investigation Agency, India's main counter-terrorism body.

Diplomatic Reactions

Ukraine's Official Statement

In a statement released late on Tuesday, Ukraine's foreign ministry said that there were "no established facts proving the involvement of the said Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar".

Its ambassador to Delhi, Oleksandr Polishchuk, met Sibi George, a senior Indian foreign ministry official, and handed over a note of protest "demanding the immediate release of the Ukrainian citizens and access to them," the statement added. The meeting took place on Monday, according to a spokesperson at the Ukraine embassy in Delhi.

Concerns Over Restricted Zones

"We draw attention to the fact that there are certain restricted-access zones in India for foreign nationals, entry to which is possible only with special permits," the statement said.

"At the same time, proper marking of such areas on the ground is often absent, which creates a risk of unintentional violation of the established rules."

Responses from Other Parties

A U.S. embassy spokesperson said the embassy was aware of the situation but "for privacy reasons, we cannot comment on cases involving U.S. citizens."

The Indian foreign ministry and a Myanmar government spokesperson did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Implications and Ongoing Investigation

Security and Regional Tensions

The Delhi court order did not name the Myanmar‑based ethnic armed groups that the group allegedly met.

Citing an investigation update, it said the accused were suspected of offering support to “proscribed Indian insurgent groups by way of supplying weapons and other terrorist hardware and training them, thus affecting national security and interests of India”.

Indian officials have said that militant groups that took refuge in Myanmar and fought in its civil war returned in 2024, fuelling a months‑long deadly ethnic conflict in India’s northeastern state of Manipur.

Entry Permit Requirements

India requires foreigners to obtain entry permits for some northeastern border states that have a history of ethnic tension and security volatility.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal in Bangkok; Editing by Kate Mayberry)