A British soldier who served as a military instructor in Ukraine has been sentenced to over eight years in prison after admitting to spying for Russia. Ross David Cutmore, originally from Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland, transmitted sensitive information about the Ukrainian military to Russian intelligence in exchange for financial compensation.
Details of the case
According to a statement from the Ukrainian prosecutor general's office, Cutmore acted out of selfish motives and intended to pass the data to the aggressor country. He was jailed for eight years and six months following a plea deal at the Kyiv district court of Odesa on April 30.
Prosecutors revealed that Cutmore arrived in Ukraine in January 2024 and conducted training classes for Ukrainian service personnel in the city of Mykolaiv. In September of the same year, he relocated to Odesa, where he established contact with a member of the Russian special services and agreed to transmit military information for payment.
Espionage activities
An investigation by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in May 2025 uncovered that Cutmore had transmitted the coordinates of Ukrainian units, photographs of a training area, and information that could lead to the identification of service personnel. He also collected data on facilities in Odesa and discussed the possibility of using explosive devices, attempting to gain access to the command of military units.
One of his tasks reportedly earned him 6,000 US dollars (£4,500). Additionally, he was found to possess a Makarov pistol and combat cartridges, which he had acquired and stored illegally.
Arrest and prosecution
Cutmore was exposed and detained in October 2025. On March 27 of the following year, prosecutors submitted an indictment to the court, along with a plea agreement. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated: 'We are providing consular assistance to a British man who is detained in Ukraine. We remain in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities.'
