Ukraine war briefing: British ex-soldier arrested in Kyiv and accused of spying for Russia

British Ex-Soldier Arrested in Kyiv Accused of Spying for Russia

A shocking arrest has taken place in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a former British soldier has been detained on charges of spying for Russia. The individual, whose name has not been disclosed, allegedly posed as an adviser to the Ukrainian army and shared sensitive information with Moscow.

According to investigators, the British ex-soldier arrived in Ukraine in 2024, where he conducted military training for the army and worked in the border guard before agreeing to collaborate with Russian intelligence. The Ukrainian state security service claims that Russian agents provided him with instructions on making explosive devices and gave him a handgun and ammunition.

The former soldier is accused of attempting to establish access to the command of military units in exchange for $6,000. If found guilty, he faces up to 12 years in prison. Britain's Foreign Office has confirmed reports of his detention but declined to comment further, stating that it remains "in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities."

Meanwhile, Russia has continued its aggressive actions against Ukraine, launching overnight attacks on the northeastern city of Sumy and the western city of Oryol. The city of Sumy was hit by 11 residents, including four children, who were injured in a residential multi-storey building, private houses, and infrastructure facilities.

The Russian western city of Oryol has also restricted supply of heat and hot water after Ukrainian drones hit a pipeline at a power plant on Friday. Russian missiles have also been used to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, forcing nationwide power restrictions and killing seven people, including a seven-year-old girl.

The situation continues to deteriorate as Russia's defence ministry claims its forces are attacking facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. However, there is evidence that Russian missiles and drones frequently hit civilian homes and facilities, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of these attacks.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia aims to plunge Ukraine into darkness, while the Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has called for more air defence systems, tougher sanctions, and maximum pressure on the aggressor. The situation remains dire, with both sides suffering heavy losses in the ongoing conflict.

In related news, Japanese utilities JERA and Tohoku Electric Power Co have secured alternative supplies of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Sakhalin-2 project, amid US pressure to end energy imports from Russia.

As tensions escalate, it is essential for all parties involved to prioritize de-escalation efforts and work towards a peaceful resolution.

Man this Ukraine situation is getting so out of hand I'm literally watching in horror as innocent people are caught in the middle and losing their lives. It's like, can't we all just get along? The thought of someone being arrested for spying for Russia when they've actually been working to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression is just mind-blowing. And then there's the fact that Russian missiles and drones are targeting civilian homes and facilities... it's just so wrong . What's even more alarming is how this conflict is affecting global energy supplies - can't we all find a way to work together on these issues? I'm sending all my positive vibes to Ukraine right now

just can't believe the news about this British ex-soldier being accused of spying for Russia... like what's going on in Ukraine right now? Russia's actions are getting out of hand and it's so sad to see innocent people getting hurt 12 years in prison could be a harsh punishment, but I guess he did try to make money off of sensitive info

this guy who spy for russia is really low i mean what kind of person do that? he's like super traitor but at the same time we gotta be careful not to jump to conclusions or anything...like maybe he was blackmailed or something and it's not like britain's just gonna sit back and do nothing, they're probably trying to figure out what happened and how to help the guy meanwhile russia is just being super aggressive and it's making everyone so anxious does anyone think we'll see a peaceful resolution anytime soon?

Wow Russia's actions in Ukraine are getting more intense, I'm worried about the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire . With the recent attack on Sumy and Oryol, it's clear that these attacks are causing widespread destruction and harm to people's lives . How can diplomacy be expected to work when Russia is using such tactics?

I don’t usually comment but... this situation with the British ex-soldier being accused of spying for Russia has got me thinking . It's like, what were they expecting in Ukraine? Were they really going to get away with sharing sensitive info with Moscow and not think about the consequences . And now they're facing up to 12 years in prison if found guilty... that's a pretty hefty sentence .

I also can't help but wonder how many more like this are out there, working behind the scenes for either side without being detected . It's a crazy situation and I don't think we'll ever know the full extent of what's going on . But one thing's for sure, it's not helping to ease tensions between Ukraine and Russia .

And let's be real, this is just another example of how the conflict in Ukraine is affecting innocent civilians . I feel bad for those 11 people who got hurt in Sumy, including that poor little girl . It's like, can't we all just get along?

Anyway, it's not my place to comment, but I just had to share my thoughts on this situation .

ugh this is so messed up a british soldier spying for russia in ukraine? like what's next? a canadian working for china? or an american advising venezuela? it just seems like another way for russia to get its hands on sensitive info and justifies their whole aggression towards ukraine. i mean, $6k is nothing compared to the lives being lost on both sides of this conflict

man this whole thing got me thinking - what happens when we let our ego get in the way of doing what's right? like this ex soldier guy thought he was above the law just 'cause he had some skills, but really he was just playing with fire by collabing with the enemy . it's crazy how easily we can get caught up in trying to protect ourselves or gain something, when in reality we're actually just putting ourselves and others at risk. and now people are paying the price . its a hard lesson to learn, but imma say it again - honesty is the best policy, and if you cant be true to yourself, how can you be true to others?

This just in - another former soldier gets caught spying... like what did we expect? It's not like the Brits have a history of getting cozy with Russia or anything .

Meanwhile, in real news that matters, Ukraine is still reeling from Russia's attacks and it's actually kinda sad that they're having to deal with this kind of thing. I mean, who needs that kind of stress in their life? Seven kids, including a seven-year-old girl, killed by missiles? That's just heartbreaking.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, can we all just take a deep breath and hope for the best here? We don't need any more drama or tension. And btw, who else is over the whole "energy crisis" thing?

man this whole thing is just so messed up think about it, some dude just shows up in Ukraine, starts working with the army, and then starts spilling beans to the other side... like what even is the point of that? and now we got these innocent civilians getting hurt because of it especially the kids, a 7-year-old girl, can you imagine losing someone so young and precious? anyway back to this spy thing, i'm not buying that he was just in it for the cash, there's gotta be more to it than that... like what if there's some deeper motive or agenda at play? and have you thought about how this reflects on our global politics system? we're always talking about diplomacy and peace, but when it comes down to it, people are willing to sacrifice everything for a buck

man that's some crazy stuff ! I mean i'm not surprised that russias been playing dirty games in ukraine but $6k to spy on someone? that's just wild . and it's so sad to hear about the innocent people getting hurt by these attacks, especially those 4 kids who got injured in sumy . both sides need to stop this violence ASAP and try to find a way to resolve their differences peacefully . I'm watching all this unfold with bated breath, my anxiety levels are through the roof . one thing's for sure though - we gotta keep spreading love and positivity wherever we can .

This guy gets arrested for spying for Russia and suddenly it becomes a big deal? I mean, what's the real issue here? Is it that he was working with Russian intel without disclosing it to the UK? Or is it that he was taking money from them to get ahead in the military? Britain's not saying much about this, but they're still keeping an eye on Ukraine.

It's like they want to pretend everything's cool while Russia keeps bombing and hurting civilians. What's going on with those US sanctions? Are they doing anything to stop Russia's aggression? Japan just signed a deal to get gas from Russia - what kind of messaging does that send to Ukraine?

This whole thing is about control, power, and resources. If you look at it objectively, we're all caught in the middle of a huge geopolitical game. Ukraine's got its own problems with corruption and internal strife, but when Russia starts making moves like this, you can bet their economy will be hit hard.

We need to talk more about economic support for Ukraine, not just military aid. We also need to keep an eye on how countries like Japan are dealing with their energy imports from Russia. It's time for us to think outside the box and find solutions that don't involve just one party or country.

This isn't a partisan issue; it's about humanity. We're living in a world where civilians are getting hurt, and we need to demand action - not more rhetoric or empty promises. The situation is dire, but we can still make a difference if we work together.

this whole situation is just so worrying... can you believe some ex-soldier would betray their country like that? the thought of him sharing sensitive info with Russia, it's like he's playing with fire and putting innocent lives at risk.

i'm not surprised by these actions though, i've been saying for a while now that Russia is just trying to weaken Ukraine before making its next move . they're doing everything in their power to get what they want, no matter the cost . it's heartbreaking to see all the suffering and loss on both sides.

as for Japan deciding to switch energy suppliers, i don't think it's about patriotism or anything like that . it's just basic economics... when you're not getting a fair deal, you look elsewhere for better options . we need more countries to do the same with Russia and put pressure on them to end this senseless war .

anyway, let's all take a deep breath and hope that someone, somewhere is working towards a peaceful resolution . we can't keep living in fear and uncertainty forever .

This news has got me super worried ... I mean, who can trust anyone anymore? A British ex-soldier working in Ukraine, supposedly giving military training and border guard services, and now accused of spying for Russia? It just doesn't add up . But at the same time, you've got to consider the bigger picture here... Russia's been acting so aggressively towards Ukraine, it's like they're not even trying to hide their intentions anymore .

And what's with all these restrictions on heat and hot water in Oryol? That's some pretty desperate stuff . It's hard to watch this situation unfold without feeling like we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop . The fact that Ukraine is talking about tougher sanctions and maximum pressure on Russia sounds good, but at what cost? Are we going to end up in a full-blown war over here?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this news has me feeling like we're stuck in some kind of never-ending nightmare . Can't we just find a way to talk things out and resolve our differences peacefully?

I just had the craziest dream last night about being on a train that turns into a giant ice cream truck ! So, anyway, back to this news... have you guys seen those viral videos of cats playing the piano? my neighbor's cat is super talented and always plays along when I'm watching YouTube . I wonder what Russia would think if they knew there were cute cats in Ukraine being adorable instead of fighting

Wow like how this is gonna affect the entire region...and how can one person bring that kind of attention & danger on both sides...interesting

Man, this is getting crazy! A British ex-soldier gets caught spying for Russia in Ukraine? That's like, super sketchy. I mean, what if he had actually gone through with the deal and shared all that info with Moscow? The consequences could've been so devastating for Ukraine. And now, Russia's just keeping on attacking, it's like they don't care who they hurt.

And honestly, $6,000 is not a lot of money compared to the lives at stake here. It's all about priorities, right? I'm worried that this guy got caught up in the wrong thing and now innocent people are paying the price. We need to keep pushing for peace and diplomacy over military action any day. The world needs to come together to support Ukraine in this time of need

I'm not buying this whole "former soldier turned spy" story . I mean, come on, $6,000 for some sweet intel? That's like asking me to sell my soul online . And what's with the Ukrainian army trusting some dodgy Brit with sensitive info? Did they not do a proper background check?

And let's be real, this guy was in Ukraine in 2024, right after Russia started invading... coincidence? I'm not saying he did it on purpose or anything, but it just seems like a convenient timing. And now we're expected to believe that Russia didn't just use him as some sort of proxy spy?

And while we're at it, what's with the lack of transparency from Britain? Why won't they comment further on this guy's detainment? Are they hiding something? It just feels like there's more to this story than meets the eye.

And another thing, why are we so quick to jump into this spy-gate drama when Russia is still going on a rampage with its missiles and drones? Don't get me wrong, it's terrible what's happening in Ukraine, but can't we focus on that instead of playing espionage detective?

omg i just watched the new avengers movie with my friends and i'm still hyped about that one plot twist what's going on in ukraine tho? i mean i know the conflict has been ongoing but it seems like things are getting worse can we get a map of the affected areas so we can see what's happening on the ground? is that even possible?

my heart goes out to the innocent civilians caught in the middle of this conflict... they're just trying to live their lives without fear of being hurt by missiles or drones can't we all just talk it out instead of resorting to violence? I can only imagine how scared those 4 children must be right now, and the 7-year-old girl who lost her life... RIP little one my thoughts are with Ukraine and all the people affected by this senseless war