India Probe Links US Mercenary, 14 Ukrainians To Drone Attack In Myanmar
The Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating an American citizen and several Ukrainian nationals for allegedly facilitating drone warfare training for ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The group, arrested for illegal entry into India, is suspected of supplying technology used in a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in Myanmar.
Why it matters
The case highlights the growing security concerns regarding the proliferation of drone technology in regional conflicts and the potential for foreign nationals to use porous borders to facilitate insurgent activities.
American citizen Matthew Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals, who were arrested in March over allegations of illegally entering India through the Mizoram border, were allegedly involved in a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in neighbouring Myanmar, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a Delhi court. The agency told the Patiala House court that the group was also allegedly planning to carry out terror activities in India and sought to interrogate Van Dyke and Ukrainian national Kaminskyi Viktor in Tihar jail, where they are lodged. Granting the NIA's plea, the special court observed that interrogating the accused is part of the investigative agency's procedure and that courts should generally not interfere in the investigation process.14 Ukrainians Entered Myanmar Via IndiaNIA said that during its probe, it found that at least 14 Ukrainian nationals entered India on tourist visas on different dates and travelled to Mizoram via Guwahati.
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