NEW DELHI — March 17, 2026 : India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainian citizens and one American, in a counter-terrorism operation linked to alleged support for insurgent groups operating along the India–Myanmar border. The arrests were carried out on March 13, 2026, at airports in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata as the individuals attempted to leave the country.
A Special NIA Court at Patiala House Courts in New Delhi, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma, granted 11 days of NIA custody for all seven accused on March 16. The custody period extends until March 27, 2026. The case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with the agency citing national security concerns and the need for custodial interrogation to determine the full scope of the alleged network, including funding channels, logistics, and possible local links.
Arrests and Movement Across India
According to officials, the American national was detained in Kolkata, while the six Ukrainian nationals were apprehended in Delhi and Lucknow. Investigators stated that all seven had entered India on valid tourist visas but later violated visa conditions by traveling to restricted and protected areas in Mizoram without obtaining the mandatory permits.
From Mizoram, the group allegedly crossed into Myanmar through informal border routes. The NIA has described this movement as a key component of the case, linking Indian territory to cross-border insurgent activity.
Alleged Role in Training and Drone Supply
The NIA alleges that the group was involved in providing specialized military training to Myanmar-based Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs). These groups are known to operate in regions bordering India and have documented linkages with insurgent organizations active in India’s northeastern states.
Investigators state that the training included weapons handling, drone operations, drone assembly, and electronic countermeasures such as jamming technology. The agency further alleges that the accused facilitated the illegal movement of large consignments of drones sourced from Europe into Myanmar via Indian territory.
Officials believe the drones were intended for operational use by EAGs in surveillance and combat roles, raising concerns about the potential spillover of such capabilities into Indian territory.
Identities of the Accused
The six Ukrainian nationals have been identified as Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor.
The American national has been identified as Matthew Aaron Van Dyke.
Background of Matthew Aaron Van Dyke
Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, born in Baltimore, Maryland USA, holds a master’s degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He initially traveled across the Middle East and North Africa as a documentary filmmaker and motorcycle traveler.
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Van Dyke joined anti-government rebel forces fighting against Muammar Gaddafi. He was captured during the conflict and held in solitary confinement for nearly six months before returning to the battlefield after his release.
In 2014, following the killings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by ISIS, Van Dyke founded Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), a U.S.-based non-profit organization. The organization provides military training, logistical support, and consulting services to groups engaged in conflicts against terrorist organizations and authoritarian regimes.
SOLI’s early activities included training the Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU), an Assyrian militia in Iraq. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the organization expanded its operations to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including tactical training, supply efforts, and demining programs for unexploded ordnance.
Van Dyke has maintained a public profile through social media, where he has documented his activities across multiple conflict zones, including Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine.
Investigation Focus and Security Concerns
The NIA has described the case as part of a broader conspiracy with implications for India’s internal security. Investigators are examining whether the activities extended beyond training and logistics into direct operational support affecting Indian territory.
The agency is also analyzing financial transactions, procurement channels for drone equipment, and potential coordination with local insurgent networks in India’s Northeast.
Officials indicated that the case forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle cross-border insurgency and terror financing networks operating along the India–Myanmar frontier, a region long affected by porous borders and militant activity.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Probe
Videos showing NIA officials escorting the accused at airports circulated widely on social media following the arrests, leading to early identification of the American suspect before official confirmation through court filings.
As of March 17, no official statements have been issued by the United States or Ukrainian authorities regarding the arrests.
The seven accused remain in NIA custody as the investigation continues. Authorities are expected to present further findings in court upon completion of the current remand period.
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