site.btaTwo Ukrainian Ex-Servicemen Charged with Espionage Left in Indefinite Custody

The Sofia City Court (SCC) has left in indefinite custody two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria and charged with espionage, BTA learnt from the Court on Friday. The ruling was issued on Thursday and is appealable before the upper court.

The SCC panel held that there is sufficient evidence that the two men have committed the offence of which they are charged. Judging from the gravity of the charges, there is a risk of them absconding and reoffending.

On conviction, the two face 10 to 20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without commutation.

The case has been adjourned on a motion by the defence for the conduct of medical certification.

The Ukrainians were detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have been identified as 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, and 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.