The Sofia City Court (SCC) has ordered the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen detained in Bulgaria, who are currently charged with espionage. The ruling was issued on Thursday and remains subject to appeal before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that sufficient evidence exists to support the charges brought against the two men.
Furthermore, the court cited a risk of absconding and reoffending, given the seriousness of the alleged offenses. Should they be convicted, the two individuals face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without commutation. The case has been temporarily adjourned following a request from the defense for a medical certification.
The two Ukrainian nationals were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, who was a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and previously managed an unmanned aircraft systems department before retiring due to injury. The second man is Roman Zozulya, 32, who served in the AFU assault forces and retired 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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