The Sofia City Court (SCC) placed two Ukrainian ex-servicemen in indefinite custody on Friday after issuing a ruling on Thursday. The court determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the two men. The charges relate to espionage.
The ruling indicates that, given the severity of the accusations, there is a risk that the individuals might abscond or reoffend. If convicted, the two men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without commutation. The case has been temporarily adjourned following a motion from the defense requesting medical certification.
The two Ukrainian nationals were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have been formally charged with espionage. One individual is identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, originally from Zaporizhzhia.
Timofeev was a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who managed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The other man is Roman Zozulya, 32, from Vasylkiv. Zozulya served with the AFU assault forces before retiring after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell.
Currently, both men are temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain. The ruling issued by the SCC is subject to appeal before a higher court.
Topics: #charged #court #two
