Did a Russian tip-off help NIA arrest US citizen VanDyke and six Ukrainians?

New Delhi: Russian authorities alerted India about the activities of a US citizen and six Ukrainian nationals, resulting in their arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, officials familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times.

The seven individuals, Mathew Aaron Van Dyke, Maksym Honcharuk, Petro Hubra, Sukmanovskyi Ivan, Stefankiv Marian, Slyviak Taras, and Kaminskyi Viktor, were taken into custody on March 13 at airports in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata after months of NIA surveillance in the north-east. They have been remanded in NIA custody until March 27 by a Delhi court.

According to Indian officials, the group is suspected of making repeated trips to Myanmar since 2024, allegedly supplying drones, jamming equipment, and providing training to ethnic armed groups. Authorities are now focused on identifying individuals who may have assisted the Americans and Ukrainians in travelling to Mizoram and crossing into Myanmar.

The six Ukrainians were reportedly part of a larger group of 14 people who had travelled to Myanmar. Officials are trying to ascertain whether the remaining eight are still in Myanmar or have left via India.

On Wednesday, an Indian lawyer representing the Ukrainian nationals withdrew from the case, citing “professional exigencies.”

The US embassy has acknowledged the matter but declined to comment further. US Ambassador Sergio Gor said on social media, “I had an extremely fruitful meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval covering critical security and geopolitical issues. Strategic cooperation between the United States and India continues to advance.” It could not immediately be confirmed whether VanDyke’s case was discussed during the meeting.

VanDyke, from Baltimore, has described himself as a soldier, international businessman, and war correspondent after failing to join the CIA. He claims to be the founder of the military contracting firm Sons of Liberty International.

Meanwhile, Sons of Liberty International responded on X, saying, “The SOLI team is aware of the detention of SOLI founder Matt VanDyke in India. We are awaiting more details from his appointed attorney and the NIA authorities in Delhi. We are in communication with the US State Department, which is aware of Matthew’s detention and is in contact with local authorities in India.”

Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk stressed the importance of due process, saying, “The process against the arrested Ukrainian nationals must be open. The Indian side should involve Ukrainian experts, and Ukraine is ready to cooperate under the terms of the treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters that has been in effect since 2003. We are not in any way forcing the courts, and the judicial process must be objective and fair.”

According to NIA submissions, the seven entered India on tourist visas and travelled to Guwahati before moving to Mizoram without the required Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or Protected Area Permit (PAP). They allegedly entered Myanmar illegally to conduct pre-scheduled training for ethnic armed groups “known to support terror organisations/gangs operating in India in the domain of drone warfare, drone operations, assembly and jamming technology, etc targeting the Myanmar Junta,” the agency stated.

Officials said the Ukrainian side has raised concerns about due process, including whether the nationals were presented before a judge within 24 hours and informed of charges in their language. They also highlighted that consular access has not yet been provided. The US side has not requested consular access to VanDyke either.

During questioning, the NIA claimed VanDyke and the six Ukrainians admitted to conducting multiple training sessions in Myanmar and illegally importing large consignments of drones from Europe via India for use by these groups. However, officials noted that no evidence detailing the specific crimes of the Ukrainian nationals has been shared. They emphasised the importance of maintaining judicial integrity, saying there is “no likelihood of any official sanction for such activities” amid growing strategic ties between India and Ukraine since 2024.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had earlier said in March 2025 that nearly 2,000 foreigners visited Mizoram between June and December 2024, with many allegedly crossing into Myanmar illegally to train insurgents. He noted that some visitors included UK and US nationals.