The People’s Democratic Army (PDA) military affairs officer Ko Aung Soe confirmed that five military soldiers were killed during an ambush on a military column that departed from Nyaung-U city in Mandalay Region. The clash occurred on May 20th when revolutionary forces intercepted a military convoy consisting of over 90 personnel. During the engagement, one military drone was destroyed, and while the military suffered casualties, resistance forces were able to withdraw safely without any injuries.
According to Military Affairs Officer Ko Aung Soe, while there are unconfirmed reports of up to 8 military casualties, only 5 deaths have been verified so far. Intelligence suggests that the military council is preparing to deploy another column from a different direction in response to their losses. He emphasized that special care is being taken during operations to avoid civilian casualties, as the military council frequently uses civilians as human shields during their movements. This practice has made it particularly challenging for resistance forces to carry out operations in certain areas, especially where civilians might be present.
Current reports indicate that the military council has detained approximately 10 civilians to use as human shields and has raided Gyokan village, looting civilian properties. The ongoing conflict has forced around 4,000 residents from surrounding villages to flee their homes, creating an urgent need for security and humanitarian assistance for these displaced people. The People’s Democratic Army is currently conducting a fundraising campaign called ‘In Harmony… Towards the Goal’ to support their frontline fighters, and they are calling for public participation and support in their efforts to resist the military council’s oppression. The resistance forces continue to prioritize civilian safety while maintaining their opposition to the military council’s violent actions against the people of Myanmar.
