The Sofia City Court (SCC) placed two Ukrainian ex-servicemen in indefinite custody on Friday after issuing a ruling on Thursday. The two men have been charged with espionage. The SCC panel determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against them.
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 adjourned following a request from the defense to conduct a medical certification.
The two Ukrainians were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military facility on January 12, 2026. The individuals have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, who was an Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lieutenant and previously managed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second man is Roman Zozulya, 32, who served with the AFU assault forces before retiring after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell.
Currently, both men are temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain. The ruling issued by the court is appealable before a higher court.
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