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 court issued its ruling on Thursday, which is subject to appeal at a higher judicial level. The SCC panel determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges brought against the two men.
Given the severity of the alleged offenses, the court cited a risk that the individuals might abscond or commit further crimes if released pending trial. 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 were adjourned following a motion from the defense team, which requested a medical certification for the defendants.
The two men were initially detained in Bulgaria near a military installation on January 12, 2026. They have since been identified as Oleksiy Timofeev, 41, a former lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who retired due to injury, and Roman Zozulya, 32, who served in the AFU assault forces before sustaining a head injury from a high-explosive shell. Currently, both individuals are listed as temporarily residing in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante Province, Spain.
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