Arakan battles account for 38 junta POWs as 73 personnel defect or are captured nationwide in October

By Admin 07 Nov 2026

DMG Newsroom

7 November 2026, Mrauk-U

A total of 73 junta military personnel defected or were captured as prisoners of war (POWs) across Myanmar in October, including in Arakan State and Chin State, according to a statement issued by People's Goal on November 6.

Figures released by People's Goal show that 12 junta personnel defected to resistance forces during October 2026, while another 61 were captured as POWs.

These defections and captures occurred particularly during direct clashes with the Arakan Army, according to CDM Captain Zin Yaw, a military defector.

"Junta troops are particularly terrified when facing the Arakan Army. Their fear is so deep that when orders come to deploy to Nat Yay Kan, Mindon, Nyaungkyoe or Ayeyarwaddy Region, many desert, suspecting they are ultimately being sent to Arakan. Whenever the Arakan Army launches large-scale offensives, junta troops surrender frequently," said Captain Zin Yaw.

People's Goal reported that most of the captured POWs were taken in Arakan State and Chin State, while others were captured in Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

During October, 38 junta personnel were captured in battles in Arakan State, while 17 were captured in Chin State. Members of junta-backed militias were also among those captured.

Captain Zin Yaw alleged that the junta had deliberately targeted POW detention camps with airstrikes because of the frequent surrenders of its troops on the Arakan front.

"Because so many surrender in Arakan State, the junta targets and bombs POW camps. Troops surrender because the Arakan Army treats POWs humanely. In response, the junta has resorted to hunting down and killing its own troops who surrender," he said.

According to People's Goal, the 12 personnel who defected during October included 11 soldiers and one police officer. Defections were recorded in Arakan State, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

Of the 61 personnel captured as POWs nationwide, 56 were soldiers and five were members of junta-backed militias.

"With battles raging nationwide and the military junta suffering repeated defeats, troop morale is collapsing. Were it not for strict orders from top officers, the number of defections and surrenders would be far higher than what we see now," a military analyst said.

Data compiled by People's Goal shows that a total of 4,110 junta personnel have defected, surrendered or been captured as POWs between January 2025 and the end of October 2026.