The Myanmar military has deployed hundreds of troops to southern Myanmar to clear land for the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a project backed by Russia. According to local activists and resistance fighters with direct knowledge of the situation, the offensive has involved burning villages and sealing off land tracts. The operation centers on the planned site for a deep-sea port and power plant on the Andaman Sea, which the military-backed government aims to develop as a strategic alternative to the Strait of Malacca.
The Dawei SEZ was originally launched in 2008 as a joint venture between Myanmar and Thailand but stalled in 2013 due to funding shortages and local opposition. In early 2021, just before a military coup, the oversight committee terminated previous agreements to seek new partners. The current government is now coordinating with Russia to revive the project. Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing discussed the development during a visit to Thailand this month and in recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Resistance sources, including the Tanintharyi Region People's Defence Force, reported that the military has been conducting "area-clearance operations" since July. A fighter from the Dawei District No. 1 battalion stated that troops torched houses in at least three villages. The civil society group MAGGA Initiative reported that three aid workers were detained and killed by a military column in Yebyu Township on July 9. The conflict monitor ACLED reported that a column of approximately 700 soldiers has been active in the area since late June, following orders from deputy chief Kyaw Swar Lin to protect strategic projects.
The scale of the project is significant for regional trade routes, as the Dawei SEZ is located approximately 45 kilometers from major offshore gas fields. Tanintharyi Region Chief Minister Zaw Naing Oo stated that the port could reduce cargo transit times by four to six days compared to the Strait of Malacca. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin indicated that Russian firms intend to invest in the zone to expand trade and create jobs in small and medium businesses. However, a source familiar with Moscow's thinking noted that the success of these investments will likely depend on establishing connectivity with Thailand, given the high risks currently present in Myanmar.
The military's push to reclaim this territory sets a precedent for how the government may handle other "strategic projects" lost to opposition groups following the 2021 coup. By involving Russia, the Myanmar government is seeking to secure international investment and a port footprint in the Indian Ocean despite ongoing internal conflict. What happens next depends on the military's ability to maintain control of the region against local resistance groups. While specific deadlines for the port's completion were not reported, the military has prioritized the protection of these sites following high-level diplomatic meetings in August 2026.