Overview
- India's NIA arrested six Ukrainian nationals and American Matthew Aaron VanDyke on March 13 at airports in Kolkata, Lucknow and New Delhi under UAPA and related provisions.
- The agency alleges the group entered on tourist visas, traveled to Mizoram without Restricted Area Permits, crossed illegally into Myanmar and sought to deliver EU‑made drones while training ethnic armed groups in operations, assembly and jamming.
- A Delhi court granted NIA custody through March 27 as investigators question the detainees and examine possible Indian suppliers and intermediaries tied to drone consignments.
- The Press Information Bureau rejected viral social‑media claims about thousands of Ukrainians entering India, clarifying that only seven foreign nationals have been arrested in the case.
- Ukraine’s embassy raised concerns about a possible Russian role in prompting the proceedings, while Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Kyiv of exporting instability, and intelligence reporting highlighted ongoing drone threats along the India–Myanmar border targeting critical sites.