Meet Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, the American YouTuber arrested for leaving can of Diet Coke for world's most isolated tribe

A 24-year-old American YouTuber, known for his reckless travel exploits, has been arrested after attempting to make contact with one of the world's most isolated tribes on North Sentinel Island , part of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands . The American tourist was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto the isolated island in an attempt to meet a remote tribe untouched by the modern world — and leaving a coconut and a can of Diet Coke.


What happened?

The YouTuber named Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov set off in the early hours of March 29, in a small rubber dinghy from South Sentinel Island. Upon reaching the northeastern shore of North Sentinel, he used binoculars to scan the beach in hopes of spotting members of the reclusive tribe.


When no one appeared, he waded to shore, placed the gifts on the sand, and waited for a response. He even tried to get the attention of native people by blowing a whistle, attempting to lure the islanders out of the dense forests. When his efforts proved unsuccessful, he returned to South Sentinel, where local fishermen spotted him and alerted authorities.

Polyakov recorded his visit to the island, leaving a can of Coke and a coconut on the shore as an “offering” to the people of the tribe.


Who is Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov?

The YouTuber, whose father is from Ukraine, runs a YouTube channel documenting extreme travel.


In the past, Polyakov travelled to Afghanistan to meet members of the Taliban, posing with automatic weapons and swords borrowed from the Islamist fighters. He had also previously scouted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, studying sea conditions and accessibility before he attempted to reach North Sentinel.

He had arrived in the capital, Port Blair, on 27 March and was arrested three days later on Sunday after he was reported to police by locals, who saw him taking a boat to North Sentinel Island.

There are believed to be around 150 people on the island.


The aftermath:

Andaman and Nicobar, a former British penal colony, is a group of 572 islands located more than 1,200km (700 miles) from mainland India. The Indian government strictly monitors access to some remote parts of the federal territory, which are home to five known indigenous tribes, some of whom are hostile to outsiders.


These tribes include the Sentinelese, Jarwa, Onge, Shompens, and Great Andamanese, and are among the world’s last remaining isolated communities.

Indian law prohibits travel within three nautical miles of North Sentinel Island, designating it as a protected tribal reserve since 1956. The Sentinelese, believed to number between 100 and 300, have lived in isolation for thousands of years and have fiercely resisted outside contact. Experts warn that their lack of immunity to modern diseases makes any exposure to outsiders a potential death sentence.


Andaman and Nicobar director general of police HS Dhaliwal said police were alerted after locals spotted the man near Khuramadera Beach in South Andaman, relatively close to the Jarwa Reserve Forest, which is a protected area for the Indigenous Jarwa tribe.

"The American citizen was presented before the local court after his arrest and is now on a three-day remand for further interrogation," Andaman and Nicobar Islands police chief HGS Dhaliwal told AFP.

Polyakov has been charged with entering a restricted area and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. His actions have sparked widespread condemnation. Carolina Pearce, director of the charity Survival International, called his stunt "deeply disturbing" and criticized his reckless disregard for both his own safety and the well-being of the Sentinelese people, saying, "It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic. This person's actions not only endangered his own life, but they also put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk."