A British national has been taken into custody in the Ukrainian capital, accused of conducting espionage activities on behalf of Russia.
Allegations of Espionage and Recruitment
Ross David Cutmore is suspected of having been recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Ukrainian authorities allege he provided sensitive information to Russian intelligence in return for financial payment.
According to officials, the information he is accused of transmitting included the coordinates of Ukrainian military units, photographs of a training area, and personal details of military personnel that could be used to identify them.
Timeline of Activities and Arrest
Investigators state that Cutmore first arrived in Ukraine in January 2024, initially to train recruits in the southern city of Mykolaiv. Prosecutors claim he later advertised his services through posts in pro-Russian social media groups.
"Initially, he conducted instructional sessions for military personnel in Mykolaiv, and later worked in one of the border units," a statement from the prosecutor's office detailed.
The situation escalated in September 2024. After ending his work as an instructor, he relocated to Odesa. There, he is alleged to have made contact with a representative of the Russian special services and agreed to supply military information for money.
His arrest took place outside his residence in Kyiv in October 2024. Analysis of his correspondence reportedly confirmed he had carried out additional tasks for Russian intelligence.
Legal Consequences and Official Responses
If convicted, Cutmore faces a severe penalty of up to 12 years' imprisonment along with confiscation of his property.
A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed they are aware of the detention. "We are providing consular assistance to a British man who is detained in Ukraine," she said. "We remain in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities."
Speaking from the family home in Dunfermline, Scotland, Cutmore's father, Ross John Cutmore, told the Daily Telegraph he was "lost for words" and that the news had come as a profound shock. "I'm just a normal person. I go to work. Just living my life – normal family," he said on Tuesday.
The Kyiv prosecutor's office has been approached for further comment on the ongoing case.
