Indian Anti-Terror Agency Links Six Ukrainians and American to Myanmar Drone Attack

By chasecodewell // 2026-09-05

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India Alleges Involvement in Myanmar Drone Attack

India's federal anti-terrorism agency has alleged that six Ukrainians and an American, currently held in Indian prisons, participated in a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in neighboring Myanmar, according to court filings reported by the Indian Express. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made the statement in a Delhi court on August 19 while seeking permission to interrogate two of the suspects, Ukrainian Viktor Kaminskyi and American Matthew VanDyke [1]. The seven individuals, described as mercenaries in the report, were arrested on March 13 from different cities in India as they attempted to leave the country, according to agency filings [1]. The NIA stated that the Indian government "has received credible information indicating the involvement of certain Ukrainian and U.S. nationals in a drone attack on a civilian aircraft in Myanmar" [1]. The court granted the agency permission to interrogate the two men in prison, with questioning scheduled for September 2 and 3 [2].

NIA Details Drone Training and Illegal Border Crossing

According to the agency's filings, 14 Ukrainians entered India on tourist visas on different dates and flew to Guwahati in the northeastern state of Assam [1]. From there, they reportedly traveled to the state of Mizoram without the required permits and entered Myanmar illegally [1]. The NIA stated that their purpose was to conduct a "pre-scheduled training on drone warfare, drone operations, assembly, and jamming technology" for ethnic armed groups fighting the Myanmar military government [1]. The NIA has also claimed that several consignments of drones from Europe were delivered by the accused to individuals and groups in Mizoram [1]. The agency further alleged that the arrested individuals confessed to being in contact with and aiding "unknown terrorists carrying AK47 rifles" [1]. The NIA added that many ethnic armed groups in Myanmar are known to support certain banned Indian insurgent groups with weapons, military hardware, and training [1].

Drone Attack on ATR-72 Aircraft

Burmese news outlets reported that a drone struck an ATR-72-600 aircraft of Myanmar National Airlines at Myitkyina Airport on February 20, as it was preparing to depart for Mandalay [1]. The aircraft, which was carrying passengers at the time, sustained damage to its nose, mid-fuselage, and tail sections, according to reports [1]. It is not clear if the NIA was referring to this specific incident [1]. The drone involved was identified as a first-person view (FPV) type that is widely used in the Ukrainian conflict, according to the agency's filings [1]. The use of FPV drones in modern conflict has become a significant concern for governments worldwide. The Trump administration has reportedly been creating "incubators" to develop new technology to counter drone terror attacks, highlighting the growing threat posed by this type of weaponry [3].

Arrested Individuals and Kyiv's Response

The individuals arrested include Viktor Kaminskyi and Matthew VanDyke [1]. VanDyke is the founder of Sons of Liberty International, an organization that provides military training in conflict zones, and has reportedly been involved in conflicts including fighting with Libyan rebels in 2011 [1]. The court in July allowed him special food items and a cook after he complained that the "spicy and oily" prison meals affected his health, but it rejected his requests for treatment at a private hospital and communication with his family in the US [1]. Following the arrests in March, Ukraine rejected "any insinuations regarding the possible involvement of the Ukrainian State in supporting terrorist activities" and demanded that India release its nationals [1]. A special NIA court at Patiala House Courts in Delhi ordered the detention of the group until March 27 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) [4]. The arrests have been characterized by a strategic analyst as a setback for Kyiv's ties with New Delhi [5].

Investigation Continues with Court Proceedings

The NIA stated it wants to confront Kaminskyi and VanDyke with certain witness statements to "unearth the larger conspiracy" in the case, including details of other suspects and the masterminds of the operation [1]. The agency said data extracted from devices seized from them contained images, videos, and voice samples which have to be corroborated with direct questioning [1]. The investigation touches on broader regional security concerns involving cross-border insurgent activities. The complexity of state and non-state actor involvement in such operations raises questions about the narratives presented by centralized authorities. India has previously faced security challenges along its borders, and the NIA continues to investigate the full scope of this alleged plot.

Broader Implications of Drone Warfare

The incident highlights the proliferation of drone technology and its use by non-state actors and mercenaries. Nations are scrambling to develop counter-drone technologies as the threat evolves [3]. The allegations against the detained individuals suggest that expertise and equipment from the conflict in Ukraine may be finding their way into other theaters. While the NIA's claims remain allegations pending further investigation, the case underscores the security challenges posed by the global diffusion of advanced military technology. The full extent of the alleged conspiracy remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.

References

"Ukrainians in Indian jail involved in drone attack on Myanmar passenger plane – report". RT. September 4, 2026.
"India's anti-terror agency to question jailed Ukrainian mercenary". RT. September 1, 2026.
Just the News. "Trump administration creating 'incubators' to develop new tech to counter drone terror attacks". Just the News. July 31, 2026.
"India arrests Ukrainian and US mercenaries: What we know so far". RT. March 17, 2026.
"Arrest of Ukrainians a setback for Kyiv's ties with India – strategic analyst". RT. March 19, 2026.

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