A dual Russian-Australian citizen has been charged by the Counter Foreign Inference Task Force (CFTIF) with spying on Ukraine for Russia, after he was arrested in Brisbane.
The Victorian man, Vladimir Teslov, 27, was arrested at Sumner on Thursday and charged with attempting to engage in intentional foreign interference.
Courts documents stated that Teslov was alleged to have passed on information to a person he believed was acting on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation between October 1, 2024 and August 20 this year.
The documents stated that it would be alleged at least part of his claimed activities were covert or involved deception.
The AFP said it began the operation, codenamed Woodcreeper, in June this year, which followed an “extensive investigation” by ASIO.
“It will be alleged the man sought to collect and communicate information relating to Ukrainian military personnel, locations and operations for the benefit of the Russian Federation,” the AFP and ASIO said in a joint statement.
The agencies allege Teslov travelled to Russia in October 2024 and undertook military-style training.
“After returning to Australia in December, 2024, it is alleged he maintained contact with individuals he believed were connected to Russian intelligence services,” the AFP said.
“Investigators will allege the man travelled to Ukraine in May, 2025, where he joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces and gained access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations. “
The AFP alleges Teslov then provided or attempted to provide, information he gathered in Ukraine to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
“The AFP will allege the conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel,” the statement said.
“It is alleged elements of the offence occurred while the man was in Australian and offshore.
“At this stage, there is nothing to suggest there is – or has been – any threat to Australia, however, the investigation is ongoing.”
Agencies raided homes at Sumner and Sinnamon Park on Thursday and three other raids were conducted today at properties at Springwood and Petrie Terrace, and on a person at St Lucia.
The foreign interference offence has a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said it was the first time the CFITF had charged a Russian-linked person with attempting to engage in foreign interference since laws were introduced in 2018 to protect Australia’s sovereignty and national interests.
“When I became Commissioner in October 2025, I shifted the AFP’s mission to defend and protect Australia and Australia’s future from security threats,’’ Commissioner Barrett said.
“The AFP is a national security agency and has a laser-like focus on charging those who undermine Australia’s sovereignty, whether they are accused of acting overtly or operate in the shadows on behalf of foreign principals who do not share our values.
“Foreign interference is an insidious crime and has a bigger impact on Australia than many people realise. Offenders who engage in these crimes can leave our nation vulnerable to security threats.”
Commissioner Barrett said global conflicts continued to impact the security environment in Australia and it required skilled investigators to “look deeper to identify how subterranean the crime is, and who is really responsible”.
“The AFP continues to be a world leader in foreign interference investigations and works closely with ASIO, our trusted and valued partner,” she said.
ASIO’S Deputy Director-General for Intelligence Service Delivery, Claire McGuinness, said that the matter was extremely serious.
“As the Director-General has stated, foreign interference can represent both a threat to life and a threat to our way of life,” Deputy Director-General McGuinness said.
“This case should put regimes perpetrating foreign interference on notice: we have zero tolerance. ASIO’s resolve is firm, and we will continue to work with our close partners to detect and counter attacks on Australia’s sovereignty.
“This achievement demonstrates the rigour, perseverance and agility of Australian agencies. I am immensely proud of ASIO’s outstanding contribution to this case.”
It’s understood Teslov had been living in Australia since he was a child, and that he had not been in Brisbane for long.
He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, where his lawyers did not apply for bail and he was remanded in custody by Brisbane magistrate Lewis Shillito until October 2, when he was ordered to appear via video link.
Mr Shillito viewed an unredacted copy of bail application material submitted by the Commonwealth but ordered that only a redacted version be filed with the court because of sensitive information contained in it.
Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Kyiv would have plenty of questions.
“Was he acting on his own? Was he acting together with someone else?” he said.
“Definitely Australia, along with all other democratic countries, is a target for Russian intelligence. Of course in this case, it was Ukrainian security which was compromised, not Australia, but you never know what else that person could have been doing.”
Ms Barrett said the AFP did “not want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries”.
She said it would be up to Ukraine to decide whether they would commence their own prosecutions.
Ms Barrett also said there was nothing at “this point in time” to suggest Teslov was linked to Kira and Igor Korolev, the Brisbane couple charged in 2024 with conspiracy to commit espionage for trying to pass Australian military secrets to Russia.
The taskforce includes members from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Federal Police, financial intelligence unit Austrac, foreign signals intelligence agency Australian Signals Directorate and imagery intelligence organisation AGO.
The AFP through the CFITF has charged eight people with offences relating to espionage and foreign interference since 2020.