The Sofia City Court (SCC) has ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria and charged with espionage, according to reports from the Court on Friday. The ruling, issued on Thursday, is appealable before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges against the two men.
Given the severity of the accusations, the court cited a risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further offenses. Upon conviction, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without the possibility of commutation. The proceedings were adjourned following a request from the defense team to conduct medical certification.
The two Ukrainians were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, who was a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and previously managed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second man is Roman Zozulya, 32, who served in the AFU assault forces and retired after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell.
Both men are currently residing temporarily in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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