New Delhi: US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with six Ukrainian nationals for allegedly entering India illegally through Myanmar in March, has claimed that their detention for more than six months was part of Russia's war against Ukraine. He has also vowed to disclose what he described as “shocking details” about the case in the coming months.
In a post on X, Van Dyke alleged that India had imprisoned him and several Ukrainians for over six months as part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“India threw me and several Ukrainians in prison for over six months. This was part of Russia's war against Ukraine,” he wrote.
“I will reveal shocking details about this story over the next few months, in both posts and media interviews,” he added.
India threw me and several Ukrainians in prison for over six months.This was part of Russia's war against Ukraine.I will reveal shocking details about this story over the next few months in both posts and media interviews.
— Matthew VanDyke (@Matt_VanDyke) November 9, 2026
A Delhi court recently permitted Van Dyke and the six Ukrainian nationals to travel to their respective home countries, the US and Ukraine, for one month after they were discharged from proceedings under the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA), 2025.
In its September 25 order, Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma observed that the right to travel abroad was an extension of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The court noted that the NIA's investigation into alleged offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was still underway. However, it said the agency had not sought their physical presence in the immediate future to complete the investigation.
The court directed the accused to cooperate with the probe through videoconferencing or appear physically whenever required by the NIA. It also instructed them to return to India after completing one month in their respective countries.
The six Ukrainian nationals — Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor — were discharged on September 18. Van Dyke was discharged on September 25 after the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) compounded the offences by imposing a fine of Rs 5.5 lakh on each accused.
Van Dyke was granted default bail on September 18, while the six Ukrainians received default bail on September 23.
Why did the NIA arrest Van Dyke and six Ukrainians?
The NIA arrested Van Dyke and the six Ukrainian nationals on March 13 after they allegedly entered India from Myanmar through the Mizoram border. They were subsequently intercepted at different domestic airports across the country.
The agency alleged that the group was part of a wider conspiracy involving assistance to ethnic armed groups operating in India and Myanmar, including providing training in drone warfare.
The NIA initially registered a case under provisions of the UAPA and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
However, in its first chargesheet, filed on September 8, the agency invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which deal with unauthorised entry, visa overstaying and other violations. It also clarified that its investigation under the UAPA was continuing.
The agency said it could file a supplementary chargesheet if further investigation established offences under the anti-terror law.
NIA alleges drone warfare training for Myanmar armed groups
The NIA had earlier told the court that the accused were allegedly involved in a pre-arranged training programme for ethnic armed groups based in Myanmar.
According to the agency, the programme covered drone warfare, drone operations, assembly techniques and jamming technology.
The NIA also maintained that further investigation was necessary to establish the complete facts of the case, particularly concerning the import and recovery of a large quantity of drones and related accessories through India.
