Foreigners providing drone technology to Myanmar revolution groups arrested and investigated in India

Six Ukrainian nationals and one American national, who are being held in India, were involved in the attack on a civilian aircraft in Myanmar with drones and had prepared to assist revolutionary groups, the Indian investigation team reported to the court. The seven foreigners were arrested by Indian authorities at three airports. They are accused of illegally entering border areas without permission and training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar in drone technology and operational skills. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India reported to the Delhi court that it has obtained credible evidence that these foreigners were involved in the attack on a civilian aircraft that occurred in Myanmar. Investigators were granted permission to question the arrested Ukrainian national Viktor Kaminsky and American film director Matthew Aaron Vandyke in Delhi's Tihar Jail. American national Matthew Vandyke is a person who frequently visits conflict zones as a journalist and filmmaker, and he previously won the Best Documentary Film award at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. According to the Indian investigation team, the Ukrainian nationals entered India on tourist visas, then illegally entered Myanmar through Mizoram state, and provided drone training to ethnic armed groups. It is alleged that these foreigners were involved in the suicide drone attack on a civilian passenger aircraft preparing to depart for Mandalay at the Myitkyina Airport in Kachin State on February 20. It is alleged that these foreigners illegally imported a large number of drones and related equipment from Europe to Myanmar through India and were also assisting armed groups rebelling against the Indian government. Authorities are continuing to investigate the various digital devices seized from the defendants, and it is said that more time is still needed to scrutinize a large amount of evidence such as photos, videos, and audio files. Investigators testified in court that they will continue to investigate the defendants to uncover larger conspiracies behind this incident. According to statistics from the Conflict Observatory (ACLED), violence and war have intensified in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021, with over 100,000 people killed. The Indian government considers the actions of these foreigners to be a direct threat to national security and interests and is continuing investigations into the case.