The Sofia City Court (SCC) ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria and formally charged with espionage, according to reports on Friday. The ruling, issued Thursday, stated that the charges are subject to appeal before a higher court. The SCC panel concluded that there is adequate evidence supporting the offenses of which the two men are charged.
Furthermore, the court cited the seriousness of the accusations as justification for maintaining custody, citing a risk of the men absconding or committing further offenses. Should they be convicted, the two face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, or potentially life imprisonment without commutation. The proceedings have been temporarily adjourned following a defense motion to conduct medical certification.
The two individuals were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, who previously served as an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant heading an unmanned aircraft systems department before his disability retirement, and Roman Zozulya, 32. Zozulya served in the AFU assault forces before retiring due to an injury sustained from a high-explosive shell to the head.
Currently, both men are temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, located in the Alicante Province of Spain.
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