Myanmar Military Clears Land for Russia-Backed Dawei Special Economic Zone
Troops have burned villages and displaced civilians in southern Myanmar to secure territory for the port and industrial project.
Yangon1 min read
Last updated
Myanmar's military has deployed troops to clear areas for the Russia-backed Dawei Special Economic Zone in the country's south, according to reports on 21 August 2026.
Operations have included burning of villages, killing of civilians and sealing of land. The project aims to create a deep-sea port and industrial zone with Russian involvement.
Local residents and monitoring groups describe forced displacement and destruction of property. The military has framed the moves as necessary for development and security.
Dawei has long been discussed as a potential economic corridor linking the Andaman Sea to Thailand and beyond. Earlier attempts stalled amid conflict and financing difficulties. The current push coincides with closer Myanmar-Russia economic and security ties, including recent high-level visits.
The human cost of the land clearance adds to the wider displacement caused by fighting across Myanmar since the 2021 coup. International organisations have limited access to verify the full scale of the operations.
