The Sofia City Court (SCC) has ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen who were detained in Bulgaria and are currently charged with espionage, according to reports on Friday. The ruling, issued on Thursday, is subject to appeal before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the men.
Given the severity of the alleged offenses, the court cited a risk that the two individuals might abscond or commit further crimes if released. Upon conviction, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, or life imprisonment without commutation. The case proceedings were subsequently adjourned following a motion by the defense team to conduct necessary medical certifications.
The two men 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 a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury, and Roman Zozulya, 32. Zozulya previously served in 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, Alicante Province, Spain.
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