Chin National Council to unite armed resistance factions
The Chin National Front (CNF) spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told DVB that the cooperation between the two armed factions of the Chin resistance will come after drafting a constitution. The Chinland Council and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) agreed to merge and establish a single governing body called the Chin National Council, after a meeting in India’s Mizoram State capital Aizawl on Feb. 26.
“Currently, we have agreed to form the Chin National Council. We must develop a procedure and points of agreement on both sides in order for us to work together. Then we must establish trust,” said Salai Htet Ni. The CNF leads the Chinland Council and the ICNCC leads the Chin Brotherhood. The two armed factions will follow the demands of the Chin people to unite and fight together against the regime, which seized power after the 2021 military coup.
Since 2021, Chin resistance forces have seized control of 15 out of 20 townships in Chinland, including the Burma-India border town of Rikhawdar. The Arakan Army (AA) controls Paletwa Township in southern Chinland. The regime controls the state capital Hakha, as well as Thantlang, Tedim and Falam, which are located 22-122 miles (35-196 km) to the west and north of Hakha.
Over 40 regime personnel killed by resistance in Sagaing Region
The People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Kanbalu District of Sagaing Region told DVB that more than 40 military personnel were killed and an unknown number were injured during fighting between resistance and regime forces along the Shwebo-Myitkyina Road since Feb. 19. Kanbalu is located 103 miles (166 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
Kanbalu Township is partially controlled by the PDF under the National Unity Government (NUG). “Fighting between us and the regime column, which includes 300 military personnel and pro-military militia members, has been going on for two weeks. We destroyed one of their trucks. None of us have been seriously injured so far,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB.
The regime has arrested 30 civilians, including children and elderly, in Paygyi and Ngatpyawtai. Kanbalu residents accuse them of using civilians as human shields. A PDF member claimed that two civilians, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed during an arson attack in the villages. Thousands of Kanbalu residents have been forced to flee their homes and are in need of emergency aid, including food and medicine.
Min Aung Hlaing signs nuclear power deal with Russia
Min Aung Hlaing met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday after being welcomed by Russia as Myanmar’s head of state upon arrival in Moscow. Putin thanked the regime leader for gifting six elephant calves to Russia, which has been called “elephant diplomacy,” after Moscow delivered six fighter jets to Naypyidaw last year.
“This year, we are marking 25 years since signing the declaration on the foundations of friendship between our two countries. In fact, there has been steady progress in the relations between Russia and Myanmar,” Putin stated in his welcoming address at the Kremlin. In 2024, trade between Russia and Burma increased by 40 percent, according to Putin.
A deal was signed between the regime in Naypyidaw and Moscow on building a “small-scale” nuclear power plant in Burma, Reuters reported. Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear power corporation, stated that the power plant would have a capacity of 100 megawatts with the possibility of trebling, or generating three times, that capacity.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Sources close to the police department in Lemyethna Township told DVB that a 24-year-old local man was beaten and then killed by police on Monday – one day after his arrest. Lemyethna is located 75 miles (120 km) north of the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein.
“His family was informed on Monday to collect the body. The police department said that he was accidentally shot and killed,” said the source on the condition of anonymity. A witness told DVB that the man was beaten then shot and killed. Four police officers have been arrested and are under investigation.
CHINLAND—The Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) released a report on Monday stating that more than 280 civilians in Chinland, including 80 resistance force members, have been killed by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 up to Feb. 25.
The ICA report documented over 250 airstrikes in Chinland and other areas where the Chin people have lived since being displaced from their homes in 2021. Over 65,000 Chin have fled their homeland into India and around 1,800 homes and 70 religious buildings have been destroyed by regime airstrikes, according to the ICA.
KAREN—Nearly 1,000 residents of Lel Paw He village of Hlaingbwe Township fled their homes across the border into neighbouring Thailand on Tuesday. The Burma Air Force carried out retaliatory airstrikes against the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) during fighting for control of the Lel Paw He military outpost.
An anonymous source on the frontline in Hlaingbwe told DVB that regime troops from the Aung Zeya column burned down 80 homes in Kawtnwet village after a battle with the KNLA on Feb. 24. Hlaingbwe is located 23 miles (37 km) northeast of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
SHAN—The Moebye PDF in Pekon Township of southern Shan told DVB on Tuesday that both it and regime forces have suffered “heavy casualties” after a counteroffensive by around 700 regime troops in Moebye, which is located 100 miles (160 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 11 miles (17 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.
“Since late 2024, the military has been fiercely trying to regain control of the Moebye-Loikaw Road,” a PDF information officer told DVB. “The regime has deployed troops from Light Infantry Battalion 422 and recruits from conscription batches 1, 4, 5, and 7. Our most urgent needs are medical supplies and military equipment.”
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