British Military Instructor Arrested in Ukraine for Spying for Russia

A British man, initially working as a military instructor for Ukrainian forces in Mykolaiv, was arrested in Kyiv on charges of spying for Russia and preparing terrorist attacks. Ukrainian authorities reported that after training soldiers and working with border units, he ceased his instructor role in September 2024 and began advertising his services on pro-Kremlin internet forums, eventually establishing contact with Russia's FSB. He provided military intelligence, including locations of Ukrainian units and training areas, and received payments for espionage activities. Investigators found he was instructed by Russian operatives on making explosives and retrieved weapons from a hidden cache, suggesting preparation for attacks. The man was detained following months of surveillance and remains in custody facing up to 12 years in prison under charges related to unauthorized dissemination of military information during martial law. The case highlights ongoing security challenges for foreign volunteers and the risks of espionage amid the conflict in Ukraine.