Ukrainian mercenary activity in India ‘very disturbing’ – ex-general
Recently uncovered Ukrainian mercenary activity in India is “very disturbing,” a former paramilitary general has told RT India.
India’s anti-terrorism organization, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), last week arrested seven people, including six Ukrainians and a US citizen, for allegedly training and supplying weapons to insurgents in Myanmar. It said the men had crossed into India’s eastern neighbor and back through the state of Mizoram, which restricts the entry of non-Indian citizens.
The lack of Myanmar army personnel on the border with Mizoram facilitates significant movement of people, Lt. Gen. Shokin Chauhan, former director general of the Assam Rifles paramilitary force, told RT India.
“The Ukrainian Embassy has asked for their [arrested nationals] release,” he added. “But we are not going to give them up because it’s very, very clear that they entered this part of India illegally.”
Chauhan said the suspects will be charged for violating Indian laws.
❗️RT INDIA EXCLUSIVE - NAMED: American & Ukrainian Nationals Arrested For Alleged 'Terror Training' In MyanmarThe American named, Matthew VanDyke, has appeared in at least two films - one about his activities in Libya, and another about his 'security' firm, Sons of Liberty… https://t.co/68tmeaRBtIpic.twitter.com/pf5v8mfK4z
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 17, 2026
He said the region around the India-Myanmar border is a hotbed of insurgent activity against the Myanmar Army.
Those arrested could have been in the region to train insurgents to fight the Myanmar Army, according to Chauhan.
“However, many of these insurgent groups are also helping out insurgent groups that are operating inside India,” he added, calling it “a very disturbing factor.”
The former paramilitary officer said it is not known how the mercenaries entered Mizoram as a special permit was required for foreigners to enter the region.
“The Indo-Myanmar border is 1,643 kilometers long… The lack of a continuous fence… that’s the issue with our northeastern borders,” he said. “A lot of people [are] trying to fish in troubled waters. And I’m not sure which foreign power is involved in it, if there’s a foreign power involved. I’m not sure which insurgent group is involved in it, but we will come to know. And we will have the capability to deal with this very soon.”
