Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Six Ukrainians Get Default Bail in NIA Drone-Warfare Case
A Delhi court gave six Ukrainian nationals default bail in a case investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
Default bail is given when investigators do not complete certain legal steps within the allowed time.
The case concerns alleged drone training for armed groups in Myanmar.
The accused were also accused of immigration violations.
Those immigration charges were settled after fines were paid to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
The NIA is still investigating possible offences under India’s anti-terror law.
The court has not ended the investigation or decided whether the allegations are proven.
A US national named Matthew Aaron Van Dyke also received default bail in the same case.
A Delhi court granted default bail to six Ukrainian nationals in an NIA drone-warfare case.
The accused were ordered to provide personal bonds and cash deposits of Rs 1 lakh each.
They were discharged from Immigration and Foreigners Act charges after paying FRRO fines of Rs 5.5 lakh each.
The NIA’s investigation into alleged UAPA-linked terror conspiracy remains ongoing.
US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke also received default bail in the case.
- Who
- Six Ukrainian nationals and US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke; the case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
- What
- A Delhi court granted default bail while the NIA’s investigation into alleged drone-warfare training and a possible UAPA conspiracy continues.
- When
- The six Ukrainians were arrested on March 13; the court ruling was reported on Wednesday. The NIA filed its first chargesheet on September 8, and Van Dyke received default bail on September 18.
- Where
- The arrests occurred at Lucknow and Delhi airports; the alleged training was in Myanmar, entered through Mizoram.
- Why
- The NIA alleges the accused assisted ethnic armed groups and participated in drone-warfare training, while the court granted default bail after the investigation period and chargesheet circumstances described in the case.
NIA Allegations
Court’s Bail Ruling
Alleged terror conspiracy
NIA Allegations
The NIA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy involving assistance to ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar and drone training targeting Myanmar’s military junta.
Court’s Bail Ruling
The court granted default bail; the ruling does not conclude that the allegations are proven or end the UAPA investigation.
Immigration violations
NIA Allegations
The accused were alleged to have entered Myanmar illegally through Mizoram without valid travel documents, and the NIA’s first chargesheet invoked Immigration and Foreigners Act provisions.
Court’s Bail Ruling
The court discharged the accused from those immigration offences after the FRRO compounded them through fines of Rs 5.5 lakh each.
- Bail terms
- Each Ukrainian national received bail on a personal bond and cash deposit of Rs 1 lakh.
- Immigration offences
- The accused were discharged from Immigration and Foreigners Act sections 21 and 23.
- FRRO fines
- The Foreigners Regional Registration Office imposed a fine of Rs 5.5 lakh on each accused.
- NIA investigation
- The agency’s investigation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is continuing.
- Alleged activity
- The NIA alleges drone operations, assembly, jamming and warfare training for Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups.
- Other accused
- US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke also received default bail.