site.btaTwo Ukrainian Ex-Servicemen Charged with Espionage in Bulgaria

Two Ukrainian ex-servicemen were detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026 and have been charged with espionage, it emerged during Tuesday's hearing at which the Sofia City Court reviewed the precautionary measures securing their appearance in the proceedings.

Prosecutor Mihaela Nikolaeva specified to the media that the charges come under the Penal Code chapter dealing with offences against the Republic.

Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, born in Zaporizhzhia, was an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant who headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before his disability retirement due to injury.

Roman Zozulya, 32, born in Vasylkiv, served at the AFU assault forces before his retirement when sustained a high-explosive shell injury to the head.

Both men are temporarily resident in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.

Zozulya's lawyer asked the court to order his client's medical certification because he has continuous seizures and vomits at the pretrial detention facility. The same motion was entered for Timofeev on account of his retirement injury. The court granted the motion and adjourned the case for March 17.

The prosecution and the defence requested that the hearings of the case be held behind closed doors because the records include two classified volumes and with a view to not disclosing any information that would endanger national security. The court granted that motion, too.

Approached by the media, the defendants declined comment.