The Sofia City Court (SCC) issued an order on Thursday, leaving two Ukrainian ex-servicemen in indefinite custody following charges of espionage. The ruling, which is appealable to a higher court, determined that the panel found sufficient evidence supporting the charges brought against the two men. Due to the severity of the alleged offenses, the court cited a significant risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further offenses if released.
Should they be convicted, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, or life imprisonment without commutation. The case was adjourned following a motion by the defense to conduct necessary medical certifications. The two individuals were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026.
They have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, an ex-lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury, and Roman Zozulya, 32, who served with the AFU assault forces and retired after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell. Currently, both men are temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, within the Alicante Province of Spain. The SCC’s decision establishes their continued detention while the proceedings continue to address the allegations of espionage for which they were charged.
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