Australian authorities have charged a 27-year-old dual Russian-Australian citizen with foreign interference, alleging he attempted to provide Ukrainian military information to people he believed were connected to Russian intelligence.
The Australian Federal Police said the man is accused of obtaining information after joining the Ukrainian armed forces in May 2025 and attempting to pass it to suspected Russian intelligence contacts.
He is expected to appear before a court in Brisbane on Friday. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to police, the man travelled to Russia in October 2024, where he allegedly underwent military-style training before returning to Australia two months later. He subsequently joined the Ukrainian armed forces.
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Authorities said their investigation was continuing and there was no indication of an immediate threat to Australia.
“Foreign interference is an insidious crime and has a bigger impact on Australia than many people realise,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
The accused could not immediately be reached for comment, while Russia’s embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment.
