British instructor who trained military in Mykolaiv region suspected of cooperation with Russian intelligence

A British instructor is suspected of collaborating with Russian intelligence. Photo: SBU

The Security Service of Ukraine detained a former British instructor in Kyiv who is suspected of collaborating and spying for Russian intelligence. The man used to train Ukrainian military in Mykolaiv region.

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to the investigation, in early 2024, the foreigner arrived in Mykolaiv to train Ukrainian military in firearms and tactical training. He later worked in one of the border guard detachments.

At the end of September 2024, the man moved to Odesa. According to law enforcement officers, in search of «easy money», he began offering his services to Russian special services through various pro-Kremlin online groups. This is how an FSS officer came across him and recruited the Briton to perform various tasks.

In particular, according to the case file, the man managed to pass on to Russian intelligence information about other foreign instructors with whom he had previously communicated and worked during the training of the Ukrainian military. He also allegedly sent the coordinates of the Armed Forces training centres in southern Ukraine that he knew about. The British also collected data on important facilities in the city of Odesa and negotiated a possible terrorist attack in the region.

For example, it is reported that in order to carry out his tasks, the occupiers sent him instructions on how to create an improvised explosive device and the coordinates of a cache from which he received a pistol with two loaded magazines. For one of the tasks, the British instructor received 6,000 dollars.

The British instructor is suspected of collaborating with Russian intelligence. Photo: OGP

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, an analysis of the man's correspondence also confirmed that he was performing tasks for the Russian special services.

The SSU has now served him with a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorised dissemination of information about the deployment of the Armed Forces under martial law). The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and possible additional qualifications. The suspect is currently in custody. He faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Earlier, NikVesti reported that two employees of a defence plant in Mykolaiv were suspected of spying for Russian special services.