A 27-year-old dual Russian-Australian citizen was charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on August 20, 2026, with foreign interference for attempting to provide Ukrainian military intelligence to individuals he believed were linked to Russian intelligence services [1, 2, 3, 4].
The man underwent military-style training in Russia in October 2024 before returning to Australia later that year. He maintained contact with people thought to be connected to Russian intelligence after his return [1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 4]. In May 2025, he traveled to Ukraine and enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces, where he gained access to information about military personnel, units, and locations [1, 2, 3, 6, 4].
He provided or tried to provide this sensitive information to individuals he believed were operating on behalf of Russian intelligence, posing a risk to the safety of Ukrainian military personnel. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said, "It is alleged this conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel" and added, "We don’t want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries" [1].
The man was arrested in Brisbane on August 20, 2026. Police conducted multiple searches and seized devices. Authorities believe he lived in Victoria and that he is currently unemployed. There is no evidence he received military training in Australia or worked for any government agency [2, 3, 4].
The investigation, codenamed Operation Woodcreeper, began in June 2026 and involved both the AFP and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). ASIO Deputy Director-General Claire McGuinness said, "This case should put regimes perpetrating foreign interference on notice: we have zero tolerance" [2, 3, 4].
This marks the eighth foreign interference charge laid in Australia but is the first time this specific offence has been used. The maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years imprisonment under Australian law [2, 6, 4].
The Russian Embassy in Australia said it had received no official notification of the case and was working to clarify the circumstances. "At this stage, no official requests or notifications have been received by the Embassy or the Consulate General in Sydney," a spokesperson said [3].
The accused appeared in court in Brisbane on August 21, 2026. AFP Commissioner Barrett noted that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests remain possible as authorities explore whether he acted as part of a broader network [2].
