Russia sharply criticised Ukraine following the arrest of six Ukrainian nationals in India, alleging that Kyiv was attempting to conceal the activities of its citizens. The individuals were reportedly detained after infiltrating India’s northeastern region from Myanmar and were later apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at multiple airports.
Reacting to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of trying to suppress information about what she described as “questionable activities.” She further alleged that Ukraine’s response indicated an attempt to hide actions that could potentially destabilise the region.
In her statement, Zakharova criticised the Ukrainian embassy in New Delhi, claiming it sought to downplay the arrests and avoid acknowledging alleged violations of India’s counter-terrorism laws. She also accused Ukraine of deflecting attention by making unfounded claims against certain Indian and Russian media outlets.
This reaction came shortly after the Embassy of Ukraine in India raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the arrests. The embassy suggested that the case might have an “orchestrated” and “politically motivated” dimension, particularly in light of reports indicating that the investigation may have been initiated based on information provided by Russia.
The arrests were made on March 13, when the NIA detained seven individuals—six Ukrainian citizens and one American national, identified as Matthew Aaron VanDyke—at airports in Kolkata, Lucknow, and Delhi. According to officials, the group is suspected of operating as mercenaries and may have been involved in training the People’s Defence Force (PDF), a pro-democracy group that has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Myanmar’s military regime.
The incident has added a diplomatic dimension to the case, with both Russia and Ukraine offering differing interpretations of the events sharply, while Indian authorities continue their investigation.
