SYDNEY: Australian police mentioned on Friday (Aug 21) a person has been charged with international interference for allegedly searching for to tell Russia about Ukrainian army actions.
The 27-year-old Russian-Australian citizen had “military-style” coaching in Russia and later joined the Ukrainian armed forces, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett instructed a information convention.
“We do not need Australia to develop into a protected haven for people who find themselves enterprise international interference on behalf of different international locations,” she mentioned.
Police alleged he travelled to Russia for the coaching in October 2024.
He then returned to Australia, they are saying, the place he “maintained contact” with people he believed had been linked to Russian intelligence.
He travelled to Ukraine in 2025, police allege, the place he enlisted within the nation’s armed forces and “gained entry to data referring to their army personnel, models and areas”.
He then “supplied, or tried to supply, data obtained in Ukraine to people he believed had been appearing on behalf of Russian intelligence companies,” Barrett mentioned.
“It’s alleged this conduct created a danger to the protection and safety of Ukrainian army personnel.”
The crime of intentional international interference carries a penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment in Australia.
