12 Myanmar junta personnel defect and captured in Sagaing’s Kani Township

A total of 12 junta defectors and prisoners of war (POWs) have been secured in Kani Township, Sagaing Region, following an offensive by an estimated 500-strong junta column attempting to secure control of the Monywa-Yagyi-Kalay road. The junta troops entered Kani Township on 1 May. Following two months of continuous clashes with local resistance forces, several members defected to the revolutionary side. Officials from various revolutionary groups confirmed that 12 individuals have surrendered, while others were captured as POWs. “Junta soldiers began defecting in small groups of two or three. Once they realized surrender to resistance forces was possible, they coordinated with remaining personnel to defect to us. We urge others to join us as soon as possible,” a Kani-based resistance fighter stated. The defectors and captured POWs are currently under care and detention, with some defectors have already reunited with their families. Most defectors are forcibly recruited personnel under the National Service Law and they have undergone thorough vetting to ensure they are not junta’s intelligence operatives. During the clashes in Kani Township, the military junta deployed suicide drones and fighter jets to conduct airstrikes. The junta’s current deployment at Chaung Ma village on the Monywa-Yagyi road has displaced approximately 2,000 residents from five local villages, who are now facing severe shortages of relief supplies. According to data compiled by the advocacy group People’s Goal from January 2025 to June 2026, a total of 3,678 individuals including defectors, surrendering personnel, and captured POWs, have joined the revolutionary forces. The post 12 Myanmar junta personnel defect and captured in Sagaing’s Kani Township appeared first on ENG.MIZZIMA.COM.