The Sofia City Court (SCC) placed two Ukrainian ex-servicemen under indefinite custody on Friday after ruling on charges of espionage. The decision, issued on Thursday, is subject to appeal 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 reoffend. If convicted, 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 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, originally from Zaporizhzhia, who served as a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second individual is Roman Zozulya, 32, from Vasylkiv, who served in the AFU assault forces before retiring after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell.
Both men are currently residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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