‘Russia driving wedge’: Kyiv on 6 Ukrainians held for anti-India plot; MEA reacts

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NEW DELHI: Ukraine on Thursday called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the detention of six of its nationals in Mizoram, firmly rejecting any suggestion of involvement in terrorist activities and accusing Russia of trying to “drive a wedge between Ukraine and India.”The Ukrainian nationals were detained for allegedly entering Mizoram without authorisation and suspected unlawful activities. An American national was also detained in connection with the case. According to reports, the individuals are accused of assisting certain entities in Myanmar that are believed to have links with anti-India insurgent groups.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “There are certain areas which are restricted in India, and there are certain protected areas.

So for those areas, you need permission to travel there, and whether they were in possession of this particular permission or not, it is now in the court. It will be presented, and thereafter, we’ll come to know… I understand that they may want certain documents for travelling to that part of India.“Ukraine’s ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk recently met Secretary (West) in the external affairs ministry, Sibi George, and sought consular access to the detained citizens.Embassy of Ukraine in a statement said, “Ukraine firmly rejects any insinuations regarding the possible involvement of the Ukrainian State in supporting terrorist activities. Ukraine is a state that faces the consequences of Russian terror on a daily basis and, for this very reason, takes a principled and uncompromising stance in combating terrorism in all its forms.The embassy also expressed “serious concern” over media reports suggesting that the action in the case was “prompted” by information from the Russian side, describing the situation as showing signs of a “possible orchestrated and politically motivated nature.”Referring to ties with India, Ukraine noted that both countries have already affirmed their shared position on combating terrorism. It cited the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine on August 23, 2024, where both sides strongly condemned terrorism, said there can be no justification for it, and underlined the need for international cooperation in line with international law and the UN Charter.Building on this, Ukraine said that any allegations related to terrorism must be examined strictly on the basis of verified facts, transparent procedures, and full intergovernmental cooperation. It also emphasised the need for objectivity, transparency, and impartiality in the investigation.Ukraine further expressed its readiness for “active cooperation” between its authorities and Indian counterparts, particularly under the bilateral Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which provides for extensive cooperation through designated authorities.The statement also underlined that Ukraine has no interest in any activity that could threaten India’s security and alleged that “it is Russia, as an aggressor state, that seeks under every circumstance to drive a wedge between friendly countries – Ukraine and India.”Ukraine also warned that any attempts to use the case to discredit it or create distrust in India-Ukraine relations would be seen as a deliberate effort to harm bilateral ties, which it said are steadily developing and have strong potential for further growth.