The man is said to have traveled to Russia in October 2024 to undergo military training. After returning to Australia, he allegedly kept in contact with people he linked to Russian intelligence.
In 2025, he traveled to Ukraine and enlisted in the armed forces. There, he gained access to information about military personnel, units, and locations. He passed or intended to pass this information to people he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services, said Krissy Barrett.
Deliberate foreign interference can be punished with up to 20 years in prison in Australia. Australia supports Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression. In February 2025, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that over three years, her country had provided more than 1.5 billion dollars (900 million euros) to help Ukraine defend itself, including over 1.3 billion dollars (700 million euros) in military support through key battlefield equipment and training for Ukrainian forces.
Source: de.euronews.com
