The Sofia City Court (SCC) has ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen who were detained in Bulgaria and subsequently charged with espionage. The ruling, issued by the court on Thursday, confirms that the two men are subject to a decision that is appealable to a higher judicial body. The SCC panel determined that there is adequate evidence supporting the charges brought against the individuals.
Given the severity of the accusations, the court cited a significant risk that the men might abscond or commit further offenses if released. Should they be convicted, the penalty could range from 10 to 20 years in prison, or potentially life imprisonment without commutation. The case proceedings have been temporarily adjourned at the request of the defense counsel to allow for necessary 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, a former lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who headed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury, and Roman Zozulya, 32, who previously served in the AFU assault forces and retired following an injury sustained from a high-explosive shell to the head. Currently, both individuals are residing temporarily in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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