Law & Justice
Russian-Australian charged over Ukraine intel allegation
Australian police have charged a 27-year-old Russian-Australian man with foreign interference, alleging he tried to provide information about Ukrainian military activities to people he believed were acting for Russian intelligence services.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the man underwent “military-style” training in Russia in October 2024 before returning to Australia. Police allege he then kept contact with people he believed were linked to Moscow's intelligence services.
Police allege he travelled to Ukraine in 2025, enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces and gained access to information about military personnel, units and locations. Barrett said he then “provided, or attempted to provide” information obtained in Ukraine to people he believed were acting for Russian intelligence.
Barrett said the alleged conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel. Police said there was no indication the man had received military training in Australia.
Search warrants have been executed, and Barrett said further arrests were possible. The man was scheduled to face charges at a court hearing in Brisbane on Friday, August 21. He has not been publicly identified and was unemployed, Barrett said.
The investigation was conducted by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness said the case should put regimes accused of foreign interference on notice.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, called the case “deeply concerning” and said it was a reminder that Russia's aggression against Ukraine was not confined to the battlefield.
Russia's embassy in Canberra said it had learned of the case through media reports and had received no official requests or notifications from Australian authorities or from the individual concerned. The embassy said it was using available channels and resources to establish the circumstances.
Intentional foreign interference carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison in Australia. The case marks the eighth charging of an individual with crimes related to spying and foreign interference in Australia.
In 2024, Australian police charged a married Russian-born couple, Kira Korolev and Igor Korolev, with spying for Moscow, accusing them of accessing national security-related military material. Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess singled out Russia last year as an “aggressive espionage threat” to the country.
Update
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia called the case deeply concerning and said Russia's war against Ukraine was not confined to the battlefield.
Russia's embassy in Canberra said it had learned of the case through media reports and had received no official requests or notifications.
Australian spy chief Mike Burgess was cited as having described Russia last year as an aggressive espionage threat to Australia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 10:15:48 UTC.
Update
ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness said the case should put regimes accused of foreign interference on notice.
The case is described as the eighth charging of an individual with crimes related to spying and foreign interference in Australia.
Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess singled out Russia last year as an aggressive espionage threat to Australia.
Australian police charged a married Russian-born couple in 2024 with spying for Moscow.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 06:50:42 UTC.
Update
Russia's embassy in Australia said it had received no official request or notification about the case from Australian authorities or from the individual concerned.
The embassy said it was using available channels and resources to establish the circumstances of the case.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 06:34:42 UTC.
Update
Police said there was no indication the man had received military training in Australia.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said search warrants had been executed and further arrests were possible.
ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness said the case showed Australia had zero tolerance for foreign interference.
Police said the case marks the eighth charging of an individual with crimes related to spying and foreign interference in Australia.
The item adds context that Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess singled out Russia last year as an aggressive espionage threat.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 05:45:54 UTC.
Update
Police allege the man travelled to Russia in October 2024 for military-style training.
Police allege he returned to Australia and maintained contact with people he believed were linked to Russian intelligence.
Police allege he travelled to Ukraine in 2025, enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces and gained access to information about military personnel, units and locations.
Police allege he provided, or attempted to provide, information obtained in Ukraine to people he believed were acting for Russian intelligence services.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the alleged conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 04:31:38 UTC.
Update
Australian police said the man allegedly sought to inform Russia about Ukrainian military activities.
Federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the man later joined the Ukrainian armed forces.
Barrett said Australia should not become a safe haven for people undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 04:26:24 UTC.
Update
Australian police said the charged man had military-style training in Russia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 04:08:46 UTC.
Update
The offence of intentional foreign interference carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison in Australia.
Federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett was due to give more details to media at 2:00 pm (0400 GMT).
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 02:20:17 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The man has not been publicly identified.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
Barrett said further arrests were possible, but no additional arrests were confirmed in the supplied information.
Russia's embassy said it was still trying to establish the circumstances of the case.
Source
AFP news report published on .