Kyakhat village, about three miles away from the southern part of Depayin Township in Sagaing Region, was set on fire by junta troops at 8.30am on 21 February, according to locals.

“They deliberately first set fire to houses upwind [from the rest of the village] so that the whole village would burn,” said a member of the local people defense forces.

The junta troops left Sai Pyin village at around 7 a.m. on 21 February and arrived at Kyakhat village at 8 a.m. before setting it on fire at 8.30 a.m. Kyakhat village is located between Sai Pyin village and Depayin town.

Junta troops have already attacked several villages in Sagaing Region’s Depayin Township using heavy artillery and helicopters, since the beginning of February.