The Sofia City Court (SCC) has placed two Ukrainian ex-servicemen in indefinite custody while they face espionage charges, according to reports from the court on Friday. The ruling, issued on Thursday, is subject to appeal before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that sufficient evidence exists to support the charges brought against the two men.
Given the severity of the allegations, the court cited a risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further offenses. Should they be 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 proceedings were temporarily adjourned following a request from the defense for medical certification.
The two men were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military facility on January 12, 2026. They have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, originally from Zaporizhzhia, who served as an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant and managed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second man is Roman Zozulya, 32, from Vasylkiv, who served with 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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