'Terror Conspiracy': 6 Ukrainians, 1 US Citizen Booked Under UAPA; What Is The Myanmar Drone Case?

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 16:45 IST

The FIR states that the seven accused were involved in training ethnic armed groups, which are in contact with and supporting proscribed insurgent organisations in the northeast

India has arrested seven foreign nationals – six Ukrainians and one American citizen, in what the NIA claimed to be a major counterterrorism operation.

According to Indian authorities, the seven foreigners were allegedly involved in a cross-border “terror conspiracy" involving drone warfare and insurgent training along the volatile Indo-Myanmar border.

The investigation, led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has revealed activity that allegedly threatens the sovereignty and internal security of India.

WHAT DOES THE FIR SAY?

The seven foreigners have been booked under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or the UAPA, which pertains to “terror conspiracy".

The FIR names the seven accused, who were intercepted on the night of March 13 at three major transport hubs: Kolkata, Delhi, and Lucknow airports. They have been identified as Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US citizen, and six Ukrainians – Petro Hurba, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi.

The FIR states that although all seven accused entered India on valid tourist visas, they intentionally bypassed mandatory travel restrictions by entering the northeastern state of Mizoram without obtaining the required restricted area permit (RAP). The NIA alleged that this group used India as a transit point to illegally cross into Myanmar for pre-scheduled training sessions with various ethnic armed groups (EAG).

It alleged that the scope of the training provided was highly specialised, focusing on weapons handling, drone warfare operations, hardware assembly, and signal jamming. The group is accused of facilitating the illegal import of large consignments of sophisticated drones from Europe, which were then routed through Indian territory for use by these ethnic groups in Myanmar.

WHAT ARE INDIA’S CONCERNS?

The NIA investigation has revealed that the activities of the seven accused have a direct link to domestic instability.

The FIR states that the EAGs being trained are in contact with, and supporting, proscribed Indian insurgent organisations in the northeast. Officials said the hardware and expertise provided by the accused could benefit these banned rebel groups, many of whom have historically taken refuge in Myanmar and recently returned to fuel ethnic conflict within India, such as the deadly violence seen in Manipur in 2024.

The FIR states that the accused abetted these activities with the “intention of hampering India’s national security".

WHAT DID THE COURT SAY?

The seven accused have been produced before a special NIA court. Additional sessions judge Prashant Sharma granted the central agency 11 days of custody for further interrogation, with the remand period set to last until March 27.

While the NIA initially requested a 15-day period, the judge deemed 11 days sufficient for the current stage of the probe. During the proceedings, special public prosecutor Atul Tyagi argued that custody was essential to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.

The NIA told the court that the mobile phones and laptops used by the accused have been sent to the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CERT-In) for comprehensive forensic analysis. It alleged that the accused were in direct communication with “unknown terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles", and that their continued detention is necessary to facilitate other arrests and evidence collection.

In his order, Sharma observed that the allegations are of a grave nature, having a “direct bearing on the national security and interests of India".

WHAT DID UKRAINE, US SAY?

The arrests have sparked a diplomatic row, as the Ukrainian government formally protested the detention of its citizens.

In a statement released by Ukraine’s foreign ministry, officials said there are “no established facts proving the involvement" of six Ukrainians in any unlawful activities within the territory of India or Myanmar. Ukrainian ambassador to New Delhi, Oleksandr Polishchuk met with senior external affairs ministry official Sibi George to hand over a note of protest.

The note demands the immediate release of the Ukrainians and insists on consular access. A key point of the Ukrainian defence involves the nature of India’s restricted zones.

Ukraine pointed out that while foreign nationals require special permits for certain areas, there is often an absence of proper marking on the ground creating a significant risk of “unintentional violation" of entry rules by tourists. While the Ukrainian government has been vocal, a spokesperson for the US embassy said they were aware of Matthew Aaron VanDyke’s arrest but declined to comment further citing privacy reasons.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is yet to issue a formal response to the Ukrainian protest as the NIA investigation continues.

(With agency inputs)

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