A man from Britain has been apprehended in Ukraine on charges of espionage for Russia and allegedly planning acts of terrorism.
According to Kyiv prosecutors, the individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly provided classified information to Russian intelligence while serving as a military instructor. He is accused of collecting intelligence on Odesa’s facilities, attempting to infiltrate military units, and discussing the use of explosive devices. Prosecutors claim he was compensated £5,148 for one particular task.
Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, stated in a separate announcement that the man was making preparations for terrorist activities. They added that instructions on creating an improvised explosive device were sent to him by Russian operatives, who also revealed the location of a weapons cache. Allegedly, he took a pistol and two loaded magazines from the cache.
The individual arrived in Ukraine in January 2024 and conducted training sessions for military personnel in Mykolaiv before relocating to Odesa in September. Prosecutors allege that in Odesa, he liaised with a Russian intelligence representative and agreed to sell military secrets.
Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that in May, the individual shared the locations of Ukrainian military units, pictures of training grounds, and personal information about military personnel. The SBU mentioned his expertise in fire and tactical training and his active recruitment efforts on pro-Kremlin online platforms.
The man was taken into custody at his temporary residence in Kyiv by the SBU. Following a court appearance, he was remanded without bail pending a pre-trial investigation. Ukrainian security services suggested that he could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
The UK Foreign Office acknowledged the reports and stated it is maintaining close communication with Ukrainian officials.
This incident appears to be the first publicly known case of a British citizen facing espionage charges in Ukraine.
In a related development, three men aged 44, 45, and 48 were recently arrested in London on suspicion of aiding Russia’s foreign intelligence service, as announced by the Metropolitan Police. These individuals are currently in police custody under the National Security Act.
Commander Dominic Murphy of Counter Terrorism Policing London emphasized the increasing recruitment of “proxies” by foreign intelligence services. He warned individuals against engaging in criminal activities on behalf of foreign states, stressing that such actions will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted with severe consequences for those found guilty.