By Ellie CookShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA former British soldier accused of spying on Ukrainian troops for Russia has been named as Ross David Cutmore.
Ukraine's SBU domestic security service said in October that it had detained a former foreign military instructor, who allegedly worked with Russia's notorious FSB intelligence service in exchange for money. Ukrainian prosecutors had said separately the suspect was a British citizen.
Cutmore was named in Ukrainian media reports on Tuesday. A source in the SBU confirmed his identity to Newsweek.
...What To Know
Cutmore arrived in Ukraine in early 2024 and helped train military personnel in the southern Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv before working in a border guard unit, Ukrainian authorities said.
Prosecutors alleged Cutmore then moved to Odesa, also in Ukraine's south, in September 2024 and agreed to pass on military information in exchange for money to Russian agents. The SBU alleged Cutmore had posted adverts offering his services to Russia online and was approached by an FSB officer.
Cutmore is accused of giving Russia coordinates for Ukrainian units, photographs of training areas and information about personnel in May 2025. The SBU alleged he had passed on information about other foreign military trainers.
Russian agents allegedly sent Cutmore instructions for putting together an explosive device and the location of a loaded gun.
He faces up to 12 years in prison.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
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