Australia charges man over trying to inform Russia of Ukrainian military activities
SYDNEY: Australian police remarked Friday a man has been charged with foreign interference for allegedly seeking to inform Russia concerning Ukrainian military activities.
SYDNEY: Australian police remarked Friday a man has been charged with foreign interference for allegedly seeking to inform Russia concerning Ukrainian military activities.
Article outline
- What happened
- Why it matters
- The details
- The bottom line
Key points
- The 27-year-old Russian-Australian citizen had "military style" training in Russia and afterwards joined the Ukrainian armed forces, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett informed a news conference.
- The crime of intentional foreign interference carries a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment in Australia.
- He travelled to Ukraine in 2025, police allege, where he enlisted in the country's armed forces and "gained access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations".
- He then "provided, or attempted to provide, information obtained in Ukraine to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services, " Barrett remarked.
- He then returned to Australia, they say, where he "maintained contact" with individuals he believed were linked to Russian intelligence.
Notably, the 27-year-old Russian-Australian citizen had "military style" training in Russia and afterwards joined the Ukrainian armed forces, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett informed a news conference.
"We don't want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries, " she remarked. Police alleged he travelled to Russia for the training in October 2024.
"It is alleged this conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel."
Meanwhile, the crime of intentional foreign interference carries a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment in Australia.
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In short, australia charges man over trying to inform Russia of Ukrainian military activities is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.
