The Sofia City Court (SCC) has placed two Ukrainian ex-servicemen in indefinite custody following charges of espionage, according to reports from the Court on Friday. The ruling, issued the previous day, determines that the case is appealable to a higher court. The SCC panel concluded that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the two men.
The court cited the seriousness of the allegations, noting a potential risk of the individuals absconding or committing further offenses if released. Should they be convicted, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years of imprisonment, or life imprisonment without commutation. The proceedings have been temporarily adjourned at the request of the defense to allow for 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, and Roman Zozulya, 32. Timofeev previously served as an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant in an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury.
Zozulya served with the AFU assault forces and retired after sustaining an injury from a high-explosive shell to the head. Currently, both men are listed as temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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