Two junta military columns with a total strength of about 1,000 fighters are advancing towards Hpakant Town in Kachin State, from two different directions.
According to Colonel Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the two columns with an estimated, but unconfirmed, total strength of 1,000 junta soldiers and members of the junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militia have left Kamaing Town in Hpakant Township and the Indawgyi Lake area in Monghnyin Township and are travelling towards Hpakant Town.
Colonel Naw Bu said: “The junta sent two columns to Hpakant, claiming that they are rotating division commanders and delivering supplies and equipment. One column came from Kamaing, the other from Indawgyi. We’ve received reports that there was a skirmish on 23 April between our troops and the column coming from Indawgyi, but we don’t have the full details yet.”
On 23 April KIA troops and people’s defence forces (PDFs) engaged with the junta column travelling from Indawgyi Lake to Hpakant Town.
Another KIA-led coalition clashed with the junta column travelling from Kamaing Town on 24 April, near to Maubin Village in Hpakant Township, according to a local source.
Since 22 March, when junta troops entered and deployed in Lawa Village in Hpakant Township, on the Myitkyina to Hpakant Road, there has been frequent fighting in the area of Lawa Village between junta and KIA troops, which has caused the junta to retaliate with airstrikes against the KIA.
The Myitkyina to Hpakant Road is currently blocked and neither side can travel along it.
To allow for earthquake relief efforts following the 28 March magnitude 7.7 earthquake, the junta declared a unilateral ceasefire from 2 to 22 April 2025, which it later extended to 30 April.
Despite announcing a ceasefire the junta has not adhered to it and has continued to attack resistance forces and civilians. It has continued airstrikes across various parts of Myanmar, including Sagaing and Mandalay regions and Kachin and Karen states during the time of its alleged ceasefire.
