The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has released nearly 200 prisoners of war (PoWs) it had been holding in Laukkai, its administrative capital near the Chinese border, and transferred them to junta-controlled Lashio, the largest city in northern Shan State.
Local sources said that around noon on June 15, nearly 200 PoWs captured during earlier clashes were transported by vehicle from Theinni (Hsenwi) town and handed over to the junta’s Northeastern Regional Military Command headquarters in Lashio.
A resident from Lashio told Shan Herald that the latest release came shortly after coup leader-turned president Min Aung Hlaing began his visit to China. This release formed part of a continuing series of handovers of junta troops captured during the ‘1027 Operation,’ a major coordinated offensive launched by the MNDAA and two allied ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) against the military regime.
“More than 200 PoWs were released by the Kokang army (MNDAA). They were handed over to the Regional Command headquarters today. They were reportedly among those detained in Laukkai. There are still detainees being held in places like Thanlwin Sanpya Village in Nampawng Village Tract of Lashio, and I’m not sure whether those were included in the latest release. Sometimes PoW releases come from both Laukkai and Thanlwin Sanpya at the same time,” the source said.
He added that, unlike earlier transfers which mainly involved sick or elderly soldiers, the latest batch also included younger PoWs.
Following the MNDAA’s withdrawal from Lashio in April 2025 under Chinese pressure, captured junta soldiers have been released in multiple batches.
At the end of April last year, around 70 PoWs were released, while in late February, more than 200 detainees, including officers, were freed.
Similarly, in late January, more than 500 PoWs were released. Altogether, more than 1,000 captured junta soldiers are reported to have been handed over during the first half of 2026.
Since the launch of ‘Operation 1027’ on October 27, 2023, thousands of junta troops, including senior officers, have fallen into MNDAA custody, either through surrender or capture. In total, the group has reportedly released more than 3,000 PoWs to date.
