The Sofia City Court (SCC) has maintained the indefinite custody of two Ukrainian ex-servicemen who were detained in Bulgaria and are currently charged with espionage, according to reports on Friday. The ruling, issued on Thursday, stipulates that the decision is appealable before a higher court. The SCC panel determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the men.
Given the severity of the accusations, the court cited a risk that the two individuals might abscond or commit further offenses should they be released. Should they be convicted, the men face potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, or life imprisonment, potentially without commutation. The proceedings have been temporarily adjourned following a motion by the defense to conduct necessary 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, 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 served in the AFU assault forces and retired after sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell. Both individuals are currently listed as temporarily resident in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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