Model from Belarus reportedly killed in Myanmar
Ukrainian National News reported on Oct. 16 that Belarusian model Vera Kravtsova, 26, was forced to work on “romance scams” at a cyber scam center in an unspecified location of Burma before she was killed. Kravtsova had arrived in Thailand on Sept. 12 and departed for Burma on Sept 20, according to Thai immigration authorities.
“From the footage [at the Bangkok Airport], she was not forced or escorted. She left Thailand on her own,” Cherngron Rimphidi, Thailand’s Police Lieutenant-General, told Thai media. He dismissed rumours reported in the British tabloid newspaper Daily Mail that Kravtsova was kidnapped while in Thailand and taken by force into Burma.
Daily Mail reported that Kravtsova stopped communicating with her family in early October, which added that they were contacted by unknown individuals demanding a ransom of “half a million dollars” before telling them that her body was cremated and her organs were sold. A total of 9,337 foreign nationals working at cyber scam centers have been deported from Burma since Jan. 30, regime media reported.
Over 300 students enroll at Loikaw University in Karenni State
Regime media reported that 365 students have enrolled in distance education programs at Loikaw University, which was reopened by the regime on Oct. 13 after it was closed in November 2023 during an offensive launched by the Karenni resistance forces. The university is located in the Karenni State capital’s Loikaw Township. It was damaged during fighting between regime and resistance forces in late 2023.
“The regime wanted to show everything is back to normal [in Karenni State],” a source close to the Loikaw University told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Distance education students from Loikaw reportedly had to attend Taunggyi University in the Shan State capital, located 92 miles (148 km) north of Loikaw, following the university’s closure two years ago.
Sources told DVB that an unspecified number of residents have returned to their homes in villages near Ngwetaung Dam, 10 miles (16 km) south of Loikaw. The regime Union Election Commission (UEC) has scheduled elections, set to begin on Dec. 28, in Loikaw, Bawlakhe, Hpruso and Demoso townships. Polls will not be held by the UEC in Karenni resistance-controlled Mese, Hpasawng and Shadaw townships.
Three civilians killed by strikes in Shan State and Sagaing Region
Residents of Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State and Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region told DVB that three civilians were killed and four others were injured by strikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Shan’s Mongngawt town and Sagaing’s Htanpu village on Monday. Kyaukme is 66 miles (106 km) south of the regional capital Lashio. Salingyi is 27 miles (43 km) south of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
“The airstrikes caused a fire at the [Mongngaw town] market, injuring two people and destroying 10 homes and five shops,” a Kyaukme resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which seized control of Kyaukme in August 2024 but lost it to regime forces on Oct. 1, claimed that two bombs were dropped by Air Force jets near the market on Oct. 20.
A resident of Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region told DVB that one civilian was killed and two others were injured during a paramotor attack on Htanpu village and another undisclosed location. Htanpu has over 200 households and is located north of Salingyi town. A People’s Defense Force (PDF) member told DVB that Salingyi is under regime control. No fighting was reported in the area. Read more
News by Region
ARAKAN—Residents of Thandwe and Gwa townships told DVB that the Arakan Army (AA) imposed a curfew for residents, including fishermen, from going out to sea from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Oct. 18. Gwa and Thandwe, located 504-584 miles (811-939 km) south of the region’s capital Sittwe, were seized by the AA in 2024.
A Gwa resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that regime forces, including the Burma Navy, are planning to launch a counteroffensive against the AA. The AA has seized control of 14 out of the 17 total townships in Arakan, as well as Paletwa in southern Chinland.
MANDALAY—A spokesperson of the PDF in Singu Township told DVB that reforms will “better serve” the people, following a fight between residents and PDF members trying to confiscate satellite internet devices from homes on Oct. 11. Singu is located 60 miles (98 km) north of Mandalay.
The PDF told DVB that it is trying to control data leaks from reaching regime forces. Sources told DVB that the PDF lost the Phawtaw junction checkpoint, 31 miles (50 km) north of Singu, on the road connecting Pakokku to Mandalay to regime forces this month. Singu was seized by the PDF control in July 2024.
YANGON—Residents told DVB that market fairs organized by the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) have hosted gambling booths, including at the Yegyaw Festival Oct. 1-7. A source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that organizers charge 200,000 MMK ($50 USD) per night for a booth.
“At first, they just play among themselves to make it look real and gain people’s trust — like showing they can win. The onlookers, thinking they might win too, then start placing bets. But they usually lose. It’s just another kind of scam,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,050 MMK)
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