The Centre on Friday dismissed social media claims that 3,000 Ukrainians had entered India and were hiding in the Northeast to train insurgent groups, calling the posts “fake”.

In an official statement, the government said such claims circulating online were baseless and misleading.

“Some social media posts are claiming that over 3,000 Ukrainians have entered India and are hiding in the North-East to train insurgent groups… These claims are fake,” the statement said.

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Seven foreign nationals arrested, probe underway

Clarifying the situation, the government said seven individuals including six Ukrainians and one American, had been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with illegal movement towards Myanmar.

According to officials, the group was intercepted while attempting to move through key transit points in India. The Bureau of Immigration initially detained them before handing them over to the NIA.

The arrested include US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, described as an international security analyst and founder of “Sons of Liberty International (SOLI)”. The six Ukrainian nationals were identified as Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor.

Allegations of links with armed groups

The NIA’s FIR states that 14 Ukrainian nationals had entered India on tourist visas on different dates and travelled to Assam and Mizoram without obtaining the required permits.

Investigators allege the group then crossed into Myanmar illegally to conduct training sessions for Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs), which are believed to have links with insurgent outfits operating in India.

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“These groups are known to support certain proscribed Indian insurgent organisations by supplying weapons, training and other assistance,” the FIR said. Officials added that the training reportedly involved drone warfare and jamming technology.

No evidence of large-scale entry

The government stressed that there is no evidence to support claims of thousands of foreign nationals entering India for insurgent training.

Authorities said immigration and security agencies remain on alert, and further investigation into the case is ongoing. The seven accused were produced before a court on March 16 and remanded to NIA custody for 11 days.