Australian Federal Police have charged a 27-year-old Australian citizen, who also holds Russian citizenship, with foreign interference. According to investigators, Volodymyr Teslov joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to obtain information about the Ukrainian military and its units, and then tried to pass this information on to people he believed were connected to Russian intelligence.

As Censor.NET informs , this was reported by ABC .

According to AFP, the man is a 27-year-old resident of Victoria. He was identified in the Brisbane Magistrates Court as Vladimir Teslov.

AFP Commissioner Chrissy Barrett said investigators believe Teslov travelled to Russia in October 2024, where he received military training, before returning to Australia. In May 2025, he travelled to Ukraine, where he joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain access to information about the military, army units and their locations. He then attempted to pass this information on to individuals he believed were acting in the interests of Russian intelligence.

“It is likely that this behavior created a risk to the safety of the Ukrainian military,” Commissioner Barrett noted.

She added that “there is nothing to suggest that there was or is any threat to Australia.”

Teslov, according to police, was unemployed. It is currently unknown whether he was collaborating with anyone in Australia, but investigators do not rule out that he may have had accomplices, so, as the commissioner noted, there is “the possibility of further arrests.”

She added that law enforcement officers seized “a number of electronic devices and various items relevant to the investigation,” and a thorough forensic examination will be conducted.

The charge of foreign interference in Australia is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Author:  Lesya Karpenko Джерело: https://censor.net/ua/n4019536

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