Foreign interference charges laid against dual citizen in Brisbane
A 27-year-old dual Russian-Australian citizen has been charged with passing Ukrainian military details to contacts linked to Moscow, prompting a joint investigation by the AFP and ASIO.
Australian authorities have charged a 27-year-old dual Russian-Australian citizen with foreign interference, alleging he passed sensitive Ukrainian military information to individuals he believed were linked to Russian intelligence. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is due to appear in Brisbane court on Friday.
According to the Australian Federal Police, the man travelled to Russia for training in October 2024 before returning to Australia. Police allege he maintained contact with individuals he believed were linked to Moscow’s intelligence services. In May 2025, the suspect enlisted in the Ukrainian military, where he allegedly gained access to information relating to military personnel, units, and locations.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that the suspect shared this information with contacts he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services, thereby putting the safety of Ukrainian military staff at risk. Barrett noted that the suspect is currently unemployed and that there was no indication he had received military training in Australia.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Barrett said the aim of the charges was to prevent Australia from becoming a safe haven for foreign interference. ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness described the case as a notice to regimes perpetrating foreign interference, citing a policy of “zero tolerance”.
Search warrants have been executed in connection with the case, with police noting the possibility of further arrests. Meanwhile, Russia’s embassy in Australia stated it had no official knowledge of the case. The embassy said it had not received official requests or notifications from Australian authorities or the individual concerned, adding that it was using available channels to establish the circumstances.
In a related development, Russian authorities arrested nine people on Friday, charging them with working for Ukrainian intelligence. State media reported that eight of the suspects were found with 35 drones equipped with explosives smuggled from the European Union. Separately, a foreign national was detained near the Norwegian border for attempting to launch a surveillance drone over Moscow.
