The Sofia City Court (SCC) has ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria and formally charged with espionage, according to BTA on Friday. The ruling, issued on Thursday, is subject to appeal before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the two men.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the court cited a risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further offenses if released. Upon conviction, the two face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without the possibility of commutation. The case was temporarily adjourned following a request from the defense team to conduct medical certification.
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 was an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant and previously headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second man is Roman Zozulya, 32, who served in the AFU assault forces before retiring after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell.
Currently, both men are residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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