NIA looking into whether Ukrainians, U.S. national were involved in UAPA offences: sources

A probe into the alleged terror offences involving six Ukrainian citizens and one U.S. national, who were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March on charges of training anti-India armed groups in Myanmar, continues to look into whether they were engaged in activities prejudicial to India’s security, government sources said.

In the charge sheet filed against the accused on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the NIA had not invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). However, sources said investigations into possible UAPA offences were under way.

As per the NIA, the accused persons provided training in drone assembly and operation, drone warfare and jamming technology to members of Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups, including the Chin National Front (CNF) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The agency also suspected that they were involved in joint combat operations in Myanmar.

The accused had arrived in India in December 2025 and illegally crossed the India-Myanmar border to reach Victoria Camp on the other side.

The NIA has taken custody of consignments containing drones and other related equipment that had earlier been seized by Customs authorities in Delhi. Sources said investigations so far had not revealed any conclusive evidence indicating that the accused engaged in activities directed against India or that they had imparted training to any Indian insurgent group.

However, the possibility could not be ruled out at this stage and would require extensive scrutiny of data and investigation abroad, they said.