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Australia charges man over alleged Russian intelligence plot
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Australian authorities charged Vladimir Teslov, a dual Russian-Australian citizen, for allegedly joining Ukraine’s military and attempting to pass sensitive information to individuals linked to Russian intelligence.
- Teslov, 27, may face up to 20 years in prison for attempting intentional foreign interference under charges brought by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
- Investigators claim Teslov traveled to Russia in October 2024 for military-style training, then joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in May 2025, gaining access to critical military information.
- Teslov is accused of providing or attempting to provide this information to people he believed were connected to Russian intelligence, posing risks to Ukrainian military personnel's safety.
- AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett noted this is the first charge under Australia’s foreign interference laws introduced in 2018, with no current threat identified to Australia and the investigation ongoing.
