MYANMAR’S military has imported at least $1 billion (£804.71 million) worth of weapons since its February 2021 coup, some of which it has used to carry out atrocities against civilians, according to a United Nations report released Wednesday.

The report documents over 12,500 purchases that were shipped directly to the Myanmar military or known Myanmar arms dealers working for the military from February 1 2021, when the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, until December 2022. 

Tom Andrews, the UN independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, said that the volume and diversity of equipment the military received was “staggering,” ranging from fighter jets and attack helicopters and drones to advanced missile systems, tank upgrades, sophisticated communications equipment, radar complexes and components for naval ships.

Myanmar is mired in strife because of a political crisis unleashed when the military took power. 

Its takeover prompted widespread peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with deadly force, triggering armed resistance throughout the country that the army has been unable to quell. 

Mr Andrews said at least 22,000 political prisoners have been detained since the coup, at least 3.500 civilians have been killed and 1.5m people have been forcibly displaced.