Australia charges man for passing Ukrainian military intel to Russia

Police allege Australian-Russian citizen joined Ukrainian military seeking to send information to Russian intelligence.Australian police have charged a dual Russian-Australian citizen for trying to pass Ukrainian military information to people he believed were linked to Russian intelligence.The 27-year-old man was due ⁠to appear in court in Brisbane on Friday on charges of foreign interference.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Russia’s FSB orders British diplomat’s expulsion, UK rejects ‘intimidation’list 2 of 3Germany arrests Kazakhstan citizen accused of spying for Russialist 3 of 3EU sanctions nine people over alleged Russian cyber-spying campaignend of listAustralian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a news conference that the suspect travelled to Russia for training in October 2024. He then returned to Australia but “maintained contact” with individuals he believed were linked to Moscow’s intelligence services.The police allege the man enlisted in the Ukrainian military in May 2025, ‌where he “gained access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations”.Barrett said he shared the information obtained in Ukraine with “individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services”, putting the safety of Ukrainian military staff at risk.“We don’t want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries,” the commissioner said.The identity of the suspect, who is unemployed, has not been revealed. Police said there was no indication he had received military training in Australia. Search warrants have been executed, they added, noting the possibility of further arrests related to the case.Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation spy agency conducted the investigation.“This case should put regimes perpetrating foreign interference on notice: we have zero tolerance,” ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness said.