The Sofia City Court (SCC) ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria on charges of espionage, according to reports from the Court on Friday. The ruling, issued the previous day, determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges against the two men. The decision is subject to appeal before a higher court.
The SCC cited the seriousness of the allegations as justification for maintaining custody, noting the risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further offenses. Should they be convicted, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, or life imprisonment without commutation. The case has been temporarily adjourned following a motion by the defense to conduct 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, and Roman Zozulya, 32. Timofeev was formerly an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant who headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury.
Zozulya previously served in the AFU assault forces and retired following an injury sustained from a high-explosive shell to the head. Currently, both men are reported to be temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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