Myanmar military used Russian-made aircraft in civilian attacks

The Myanmar military has been accused of using Russian-made Yak-130 aircraft_ a two-seat jet trainer with ground attack capability_ against civilians_ as junta government seeks to stamp out opposition to its rule.

Myanmar Witness_ a London-based group that collects evidence of rights abuses in Myanmar_ says it was able to verify open source investigation several occasions on which unguided rockets and 23mm cannons had been used in built-up areas.

'The group has verified the repeated deployment of the Yak-130  a sophisticated_ Russian manufactured_ two-seat jet trainer aircraft with a documented ground attack capability.' Myanmar Witness said in its report_ which was released on Friday. 'During this investigation_ credible reports and geolocation have revealed the use of the Yak-130 within populated_ civilian areas.'

Among the more recent incidents_ video shared on Facebook previous month showed at least one Yak-130 performing two passes and launching several salvos of unguided rockets towards the ground. A second video showed at least one Yak-130 performing at least 5 passes and firing about 18 salvos of unguided rockets.

The attacks were said to have taken place south of Myawaddy Township in southeastern Karen State_ where ethnic armed groups have long been fighting for autonomy and have been providing training and support to civilian militias established to fight back against the February 2021 coup.

Myanmar Witness geolocated the two videos and said they were filmed just 200 metres from the Thailand-Myanmar border.

It also verified an incident in February 2022_ when at least one Yak-130 was identified taking part in an operation west of Loikaw_ in Kayah State_ also on the Thai border in the east.

'The indiscriminate employment of sophisticated attack aircraft_ particularly when employed in coordination with other military aircraft_ is in stark contrast to the means and methods employed by those groups who are viewed as insurgents by the Myanmar military_' the report said.

Myanmar was plunged into crisis in February 2021 when army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup prompted mass protests and an outpouring of anger to which the military has responded with force. More than 2_000 people have been killed in the crackdown_ while nearly 700_000 have been forced to flee their homes_ according to the United Nations.

Russia is a crucial supplier of weapons and equipment to the Myanmar military and Min Aung Hlaing was in Moscow earlier this month in pursuit of further deals.

Russia delivered 12 aircraft to Myanmar between 2015 and 2019_ when it was under a civilian administration_ but in December last year six more jets were unveiled at the Meiktila air force base_ Myanmar Witness said.