Australian police have charged a 27-year-old Russian-Australian man with foreign interference, accusing him of attempting to provide information about Ukrainian military activities to people he believed were connected to Russian intelligence.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the man travelled to Russia in October 2024, where he allegedly underwent “military-style” training before returning to Australia.
Police allege he remained in contact with individuals he believed were associated with Russian intelligence services.
The man later travelled to Ukraine in 2025 and enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces, giving him access to information about military personnel, units and their locations.
“He provided, or attempted to provide, information obtained in Ukraine to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services,” Barrett said.
Police allege his actions created a potential risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel.
“We don’t want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries,” Barrett said, stressing that authorities had “zero tolerance” for such activities.
Police said there was no evidence that the suspect had received military training in Australia.
The man, who has not been publicly identified, was unemployed at the time of his arrest, according to police.