Arrest of Ukrainians a setback for Kiev’s ties with India – strategic analyst

2026-03-19 - 08:10

Ukraine’s statements on consular access are merely an attempt to pander to the domestic audience, Shashi Asthana has told RT India The arrest of six Ukrainian mercenaries in India for subversive activities is a setback for Kiev’s ties with New Delhi, a global strategic analyst has told RT India. On March 13, six Ukrainians and one US citizen were taken into custody by India’s anti-terrorism agency for their alleged links with insurgents in Myanmar. They have also been accused of subversive activities in India’s northeast region, bordering Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Bangladesh. One Ukrainian national who was arrested is also linked to a notorious neo-Nazi community in Kiev, RT reported. India has made the names of all seven public. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has demanded that the detainees receive “unhindered consular access.” Asked how this could complicate bilateral ties if the charges are upheld, global strategic analyst Shashi Asthana told RT: “This is somehow a setback in a manner that you have these mercenaries coming here and creating problems, and India has been quite transparent.” Ukrainians will continue to receive unhindered access, and this is how the judicial process works in India, he added. Regarding the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s statement that its embassy in India has not received an official notification, Asthana said: “Maybe... this is what they told the media to justify their audience in Ukraine or Kiev.” Read more India arrests Ukrainian and US mercenaries: What we know so far “As far as consular access is concerned, there is no problem in India. Even the terrorist who killed people in the Taj hotel in Mumbai [in 2008] was given consular access,” he said. “This American [Matthew Aaron VanDyke] is the kingpin in a manner that he calls himself a security specialist,” Asthana said, adding, “He has been fighting ISIS, Libya, Ukraine, and other places.” “Their credentials are also in the media, all seven of them,” Asthana added. “His [the US citizen’s] credentials look like he is on a drone-selling spree,” he said. India’s National Investigation Agency has reportedly found evidence that multiple consignments of drones from Europe were delivered by the accused to individuals and groups in Mizoram. https://www.rt.com/india/635280-india-arrests-ukrainians-and-american/