# Delhi High Court Denies Video Call Access to Six Ukrainian Nationals Detained in Indian Prisons

> The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by six Ukrainian nationals seeking permission to communicate with their families via video conferencing. These individuals have been in custody for seven months under stringent anti-terror laws.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Crime · **Published:** 2026-09-04 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/crime/delhi-high-court-denies-video-call-access-to-six-ukrainian-nationals-detained-in-indian-prisons-27626 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Delhi High Court, Ukrainian Nationals, NIA, Mizoram, UAPA, Security Case

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by six Ukrainian nationals who sought permission to interact with their family members through video conferencing while in custody. Having failed to secure clearance from the jail authorities, these individuals approached the High Court to challenge a circular issued on December 26, 2022. This regulation bars foreign detainees from communicating with their relatives via electronic means such as video calls.

The plea argued that restricting prisoners from contacting their families violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioners contended that denying such access infringes upon their human dignity, harms their mental well-being, and isolates them from society. A bench presided over by Justice Naveen Chawla dismissed the petition, scheduling the next hearing for September 21. Previously, the court had also dismissed another challenge directed against a trial court order that extended the investigation period for these foreign nationals from 90 to 180 days.

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## Background of the Case and Initial Arrests
The sequence of events began seven months ago when Indian law enforcement agencies apprehended six Ukrainian nationals at three different airports across the country. Three individuals were detained at Lucknow airport and three at Delhi airport, while a US citizen was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration in Kolkata. At the time of the arrests, it remained unclear whether they were arriving from or heading towards Myanmar. By March 16, the accused were produced before a special National Investigation Agency court at Patiala House.

Cases were registered against them under several sections of anti-terror legislation and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The court initially remanded them to custody for 11 days, a period that was subsequently extended to three months and later to six months. According to the investigating agency, these individuals entered India legally on visas but travelled onward to the protected areas of Mizoram before crossing into Myanmar to establish contact with ethnic insurgent groups.

## Allegations of Military Training and Drone Operations
Investigators claim that the foreign nationals received training from militant factions inside Myanmar and, in turn, imparted tactical training to those insurgent groups. These factions are reportedly linked to rebel outfits active in northeastern India. Furthermore, the accused are alleged to have brought a substantial consignment of drones into the region from Europe.

The individuals taken into custody include US citizen Matthew Aaron VanDyke along with Ukrainian nationals Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stephankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksym, and Kaminskyi Viktor. According to VanDyke’s personal website, he has previously participated in the Iraq War and the Libyan Civil War. He is the founder of Sons of Liberty International, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm. The organization’s website states that it provides free security advisory and training services to vulnerable populations to help them defend against terrorist and insurgent groups. The firm also operated in Ukraine between 2022 and 2023, advising the Ukrainian military on the use of non-lethal equipment.

## Unauthorized Entry Into Sensitive Northeastern Regions
The accused entered the northeastern state of Mizoram without valid permits before illegally crossing into Myanmar. On March 16, investigators informed the court that the seven foreigners had travelled to Myanmar to train armed factions engaged in combat against the military junta. Northeastern states such as Mizoram and Manipur share borders with Myanmar’s Chin State, a historically volatile region afflicted by ethnic conflict. Ethnic factions operating in these states, such as the Kuki National Army in Manipur, maintain a presence on both sides of the border and oppose the military government.

Consequently, foreign nationals are required to obtain special permits from the central government before entering specific protected areas near the international border. The unauthorized movement of these foreign nationals into such a sensitive zone raised immediate security concerns for Indian authorities.

## Legal Framework and Charges Filed
The authorities registered an FIR against the accused, citing violations of national integrity, sovereignty, and public order under prominent legal statutes.

The primary statute invoked is the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967, which serves as the country's principal counter-terrorism law. Section 18 of the act deals with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts or create unrest within India or neighboring friendly territories. Section 20 addresses membership or support of terrorist gangs and the provision of military training to such outfits.

Additionally, charges have been brought under the Foreigners Act of 1946. Sections 14, 14A, and 14B penalize unauthorized entry into restricted or protected areas without valid documents or permits, as well as violations of visa conditions. These stringent provisions underscore the severity of the legal proceedings facing the detained individuals.

## What this means for you
This case highlights critical implications regarding national security, border regulations, and the legal treatment of foreign nationals within sensitive regions of the country.

- **Across India:** The incident underscores heightened vigilance by security agencies along sensitive international borders and protected zones. Consequently, enforcement regarding special entry permits and visa compliance for foreign visitors is likely to become much stricter nationwide.
- **Legal Precedents:** The court's firm stance on restricting video conferencing privileges for detainees facing terror-related charges indicates that national security considerations override standard inmate communication requests in sensitive investigations.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which court dismissed the petition filed by the Ukrainian nationals?
The Delhi High Court dismissed the petition filed by the Ukrainian nationals.

### 2. What did the petitioners request from the court?
They sought permission to communicate with their family members via video conferencing from jail.

### 3. When and where were these individuals arrested?
They were arrested seven months ago on March 13 across different airports in the country.

### 4. What primary laws have been invoked against the accused?
They have been charged under anti-terror legislation including the UAPA and the Foreigners Act.

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