Delhi Court Grants Default Bail to Six Ukrainians in NIA Case
A Delhi court on Wednesday granted default bail to six Ukrainian nationals who had been held in Tihar jail since March on allegations of training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The decision by Special Judge Prashant Sharma at the Rouse Avenue Courts follows the release of American citizen Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who was granted bail under similar circumstances just one week ago.
The six individuals—identified as Hurba Petro, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi—secured their release after settling immigration-related violations with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Legal Context and Immigration Settlement
The path to bail was cleared after the accused paid a total penalty of ₹5.5 lakh to compound their immigration offences. Following this payment, they were discharged of charges under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. To finalize their release, the court mandated a cash bond of ₹1 lakh per person and imposed strict travel restrictions, prohibiting them from leaving the national capital without judicial permission.
The court’s decision was largely driven by the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) failure to include more serious charges in their recent chargesheet. While the group was originally detained and investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the chargesheet filed on September 8 focused exclusively on sections related to illegal entry and visa violations.
“The chargesheet filed by the NIA is piecemeal,” Judge Sharma noted in his order. Because the investigative agency failed to formalize UAPA charges within the mandatory 180-day window, the court ruled that the accused were legally entitled to default bail.
The NIA Investigation
Despite the bail orders, the NIA maintains that its investigation into the suspects is ongoing. The agency has stated that while the immediate immigration violations have been processed, the probe into potential UAPA-related activities remains open. NIA special public prosecutor Rahul Tyagi confirmed that the agency is still seeking to verify “true and complete facts” regarding the suspects’ involvement in activities that could threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The core of the NIA’s suspicion stems from allegations that the group entered India in late 2025 and traversed through Guwahati and Mizoram to reach Myanmar. According to the investigation, the group allegedly bypassed protected area permits to enter Myanmar via the Tiau river, reaching “Victoria Camp.” There, they were reportedly tasked with training ethnic armed groups in drone warfare, assembly, and jamming technology.
The agency has suggested that this logistical operation involved collaboration with local facilitators and potentially linked to insurgent groups active in India’s northeastern states. The NIA is currently analyzing seized digital devices and investigating the import of drone components through India, claiming these activities represent a broader conspiracy.
Background of the Accused
Among those involved, Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a Baltimore native, has garnered significant attention due to his background as a self-described war correspondent and founder of the private military firm “Sons of Liberty International.” Like the Ukrainian nationals, VanDyke faced similar charges of unauthorized entry and training of foreign combatants.
While the NIA has admitted that no direct terror conspiracy against Indian soil has been established thus far, the agency continues to push for a deeper inquiry into the foreign nationals’ cross-border movements and technical support for armed factions. For now, the seven men remain under court-ordered supervision in Delhi as the complex legal process continues.
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