The Lucknow Connection: How 3 Ukrainian Combat Veterans Fell Into The NIA Net

Last Updated:March 19, 2026, 19:39 IST

In total, the NIA has nabbed seven people, including an American national and six Ukrainian citizens, at airports in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata

What brought three former Ukrainian soldiers to the heart of India—and what plans were they hatching? In a major counter-terror breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three ex-military personnel in Lucknow for allegedly training terrorists in Myanmar and plotting activities against India.

In total, the NIA has nabbed seven people, including an American national, Mathew Aaron VanDyke, and six Ukrainian citizens, Maksym Honcharuk, Petro Hubra, Sukmanovskyi Ivan, Stefankiv Marian, Slyviak Taras, and Kaminskyi Viktor. They were held on March 13 at airports in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata.

The arrests have uncovered a sophisticated international network involving drone warfare, cross-border coordination, and former soldiers with specialised combat expertise.

Petro Hurba (36), Taras Sliviyak (37), and Ivan Sukmanovskyi (34) were apprehended on March 13 at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.

According to NIA officials, all three have military backgrounds and are highly skilled in drone operations, which they reportedly used to train insurgent groups in Myanmar, a region long troubled by armed conflicts and insurgency.

Investigators said the trio had been actively working to strengthen terrorist networks in Myanmar. Their expertise in drone technology, increasingly used in modern asymmetric warfare, could have been leveraged for surveillance, targeted strikes, and smuggling weapons.

Security agencies described their presence in India as part of a wider global network attempting to extend operational reach.

The arrests followed actionable intelligence received by immigration authorities. As the suspects arrived at Lucknow airport, officials immediately flagged their travel patterns as suspicious.

Questioning revealed discrepancies in their journey, prompting authorities to take them into custody for further investigation.

Preliminary findings indicate that the three had travelled to Lucknow from Guwahati and planned to stay in the city for only a day. They had already booked onward tickets to Kuala Lumpur, suggesting a short transit stop consistent with covert international operations. This raised further concerns for security agencies monitoring potential cross-border terror activity.

Following their detention, the NIA registered a case under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The accused face charges of conspiring against India’s national security and facilitating terrorist activities through training, logistical support, and planning.

The investigation widened in scope with the arrest of an American national, Matthew Aaron VanDyke, at Kolkata airport. Officials alleged that VanDyke had played a key role in supplying weapons and providing training to insurgents in Myanmar, highlighting the transnational nature of the network.

Four Ukrainian nationals connected to the same module were detained at Delhi airport. Authorities believe these individuals were involved in network coordination, logistical support, and potentially financial transactions, indicating a well-organised, multi-layered operation spanning several countries.

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