Russian Security Services Detain German National Who Fought in Ukrainian Army

The Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday the arrest of a German citizen suspected of collecting information and fighting as a mercenary within the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to Agence France-Presse.

According to an official statement by the agency, the detainee served in the Ukrainian army between 2016 and 2018 as a sniper in territorial defense units. He returned again in November 2025 to sign a three-year contract but later fled service after failing to receive the promised financial reward.

The agency clarified that preparations are underway to open a criminal case against the detainee under Article 359 (Mercenarism) of the Russian Criminal Code, noting that he had previously participated in combat operations in Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia.