Court Convicts Ross David Cutmore
A British citizen, Ross David Cutmore, has been handed an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for collaborating with Russian intelligence services and disseminating details about Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Cutmore was detained in Ukraine in October 2025, and the verdict was delivered by the Kyiv District Court in Odesa on April 30, 2026, taking into account the time he has already spent in custody since his arrest.
Cutmore’s Activities in Ukraine
According to case materials, Cutmore arrived in Ukraine in early 2024 with the stated aim of training mobilized personnel. However, he later abandoned that work and began seeking easy money through pro-Kremlin online communities. It was in these circles that an FSB operative approached him, offering payment in exchange for cooperation. Notably, the foreigner possesses professional expertise in firearms and tactical training.
After being recruited, Cutmore passed on information about foreign instructors and the coordinates of Ukrainian military training centers in the country’s southern regions. He also received orders from the FSB to prepare a series of terrorist attacks but was apprehended while still in the planning stage. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed that, based on the evidence gathered, the suspect was found guilty under Article 114-2, Part 3 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.
“Given his cooperation with the investigation, the court imposed a sentence of eight and a half years in prison,” the SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office stated.
The case of Ross David Cutmore underscores the importance of countering foreign threats and collaboration with hostile intelligence agencies amid the military challenges facing Ukraine. It also highlights the heightened vigilance of Ukrainian law enforcement toward foreign nationals operating within the country who may pose a risk to national security, especially during the ongoing war with Russia.