Scottsdale, Arizona – Indian authorities have arrested a 24-year-old American YouTuber who illegally ventured onto North Sentinel Island in a bid to contact one of the world’s most isolated and uncontacted tribes.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was taken into custody on March 31 after he stepped foot on the restricted island two days earlier. Police say Polyakov left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut as offerings for the Sentinelese, a reclusive tribe known for violently repelling outsiders.
The island, part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, is off-limits to visitors under Indian law, with a three-mile exclusion zone enforced to protect both the tribe and outsiders. The Sentinelese, believed to have lived in isolation for thousands of years, are known to use bows, arrows, and spears to defend their land. In recent decades, several intruders—including an American missionary in 2018—have been killed by the tribe.
Authorities said Polyakov used GPS and binoculars to survey the island before landing. He reportedly blew a whistle to attract attention, remained on the beach for about an hour without encountering any tribe members, and filmed his visit before returning to his boat. His movements were noticed by local fishermen, who alerted the authorities.
“He planned meticulously over several days to visit the island and make contact with the Sentinel tribe,” said Senior Police Officer Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal.
Polyakov, who described himself as passionate about adventure and fascinated by the mystique of the Sentinelese, had reportedly made two earlier failed attempts to reach the island in October 2024 and January 2025, including one journey in an inflatable kayak.
He is currently being held in 14-day judicial custody, with a court appearance scheduled for April 17. He faces charges under laws prohibiting contact with the protected tribe, which could lead to up to five years in prison and a fine. The U.S. Embassy has been informed.
Survival International, an advocacy group for Indigenous rights, condemned the act. “This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk,” said Caroline Pearce, the group’s director. “His behavior was reckless and idiotic.”
Indian officials maintain that any outside contact risks exposing the tribe to diseases against which they have no immunity.
