NUG Declares People's Defence Force (PDF)

The NUG officially declared the formation of the People's Defence Force (PDF) as its armed wing on May 5, 2021. The PDF was opened to all citizens willing to defend against military junta violence. Within months, PDF units formed across Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago, and Kayah regions. Many PDF fighters received rudimentary training from existing ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) before conducting guerrilla attacks on SAC outposts, informants, and government facilities.