The Indian government dismissed viral social media claims on March 20, 2026, alleging 3,000 Ukrainians entered India to hide in the Northeast and train insurgents with US mercenaries and cheap drones as “fake news.”
Official Clarification
Only seven foreigners—six Ukrainians (Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Sukmanovskyi Ivan, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksym, Kaminskyi Viktor) and one US citizen Matthew Aaron VanDyke—arrested by NIA on March 13 at Kolkata/Delhi/Lucknow airports on Russian tip-off.
Arrest Details
Group entered via tourist visas, illegally crossed to Myanmar through Mizoram without RAP/PAP, trained ethnic armed groups (EAGs) in drone warfare/jamming supporting banned Indian insurgents. Charged under UAPA; remanded till March 27.
International Response
Ukraine protested lack of notification, demanding release/consular access, calling reports “manipulative.” India assures ongoing probe with full vigilance at borders/immigration.
