A British man accused of spying for Russia has been detained in Ukraine, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors in Kyiv allege in a statement that the unnamed man “collaborated” with Russian special services – and agreed to provide military information in return for money.
The man is accused of the “unauthorised dissemination of information about the defence forces in conditions of martial law”, an offence which carries a prison term of up to 12 years.
In a separate statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) allege that the man was “preparing to carry out terrorist attacks”.
They claim he “offered his services” to Russian special services on pro-Kremlin online groups. It is alleged that he was then contacted by a member of the FSB, Russia’s secret police.
The SSU statement added: “The occupiers provided him with instructions for making an improvised explosive device. They also sent him the coordinates of a weapons cache, from which he retrieved a pistol with two loaded magazines.”
He was detained at a “temporary residence” in Kyiv, according to the SSU.
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The man is said to have arrived in Ukraine in January 2024 and initially worked as a military instructor in Mykolaiv. He reportedly later worked in a border unit.
Prosecutors say he then moved to Odesa, where he “established contact with a representative of the Russian special service, and agreed to provide military information for money”.
It is alleged he transmitted the coordinates of Ukrainian units, along with photographs of a training area and other information, in May this year.
It is claimed that he received $6,000 for one “task”.
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Prosecutors say the pre-trial investigation “is being conducted by the investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine with operational support from counter-intelligence units”.
The man appeared in court this week and was detained without bail.
