An American YouTuber has been arrested in India after attempting to contact the isolated Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, made his way to the restricted island on March 29, according to local police.
Polyakov filmed his visit and left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the shore as offerings to the tribe. For thousands of years, the Sentinelese have stayed isolated from the outside world, and Indian law prohibits anyone from approaching within three miles of their island to protect their health and way of life.
Police Chief HGS Dhaliwal stated that Polyakov was arrested on March 31, just two days after his brief landing on the island. He reportedly blew a whistle for about an hour to attract the tribe’s attention before stepping ashore for around five minutes. During this time, he collected sand samples and recorded video footage of his actions.
After his arrest, Polyakov appeared in court and is currently under a three-day remand for further questioning. Authorities revealed that this was not his first attempt to reach the island; he had previously tried to visit in October 2024 and January 2025 but was stopped both times.
Polyakov’s actions have drawn criticism from various groups. Survival International, an organization that advocates for Indigenous rights, expressed concern over the risks his actions posed to both himself and the Sentinelese. Caroline Pearce, the group’s director, emphasized that uncontacted tribes lack immunity to common diseases, which could be devastating if introduced.
This incident echoes a tragic event from November 2018 when American missionary John Chau was killed by the Sentinelese after he tried to make contact with them. Chau’s attempt ended with him being shot by arrows, highlighting the dangers of approaching this tribe.
Polyakov’s YouTube channel, known as Neo-Orientalist, features a series on Afghanistan, where he has been seen holding a machine gun and traveling through the country. His recent arrest raises questions about the responsibilities of social media influencers and the potential consequences of their actions on vulnerable communities.