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A British man accused of spying for Russia while working as a military instructor has been detained in Ukraine.
Prosecutors in Kyiv allege the unnamed man “collaborated” with Moscow’s special intelligence services and agreed to provide information in return for money.
He is accused of unauthorised dissemination of defence forces secrets and faces a prison term of up to 12 years.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of reports that a British national has been detained in Ukraine.
“We remain in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities.”
The Security Service of Ukraine allege that the Briton was “preparing to carry out terrorist attacks”.
They claim he offered his services the Russians on pro-Kremlin online groups.
Having moved to Odesa, the man was then contacted by a member of the FSB, Russia’s secret police.
The SBU said spies had sent the Briton instructions about how to make an improvised explosive device as well as the location of a cache of weapons from which he took a pistol and two loaded magazines.
He was detained at a “temporary residence” in Kyiv, according to the SSU.
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.
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 (£5,148) for one “task”.
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.
Authorities published photos showing him in the dock with his face blurred to prevent his identification.
Russia continues to recruit Ukrainian and foreign nationals for subversive operations amid its full-scale invasion.
Children are also targeted, often lured through social media and online games.
