A Russian Australian man allegedly travelled to Ukraine to collect information about Ukrainian operations, with the intention to cipher that information back to Russia.<\/p>\n
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have revealed the allegations after charging a dual citizen with foreign interference overnight.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old was arrested yesterday in Sumner, in Brisbane’s west, but the AFP said he was a “Victorian resident”.<\/p>\n
He has been charged with attempting to engage in intentional foreign interference and will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.<\/p>\n
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators would allege that the man travelled to Russia in October 2024, where he undertook military-style training before returning to Australia.<\/p>\n
The AFP alleges that the man travelled to Ukraine in May 2025, where he joined Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations.<\/p>\n
He then allegedly attempted to provide the information to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Barrett said there was nothing to suggest there was any threat to Australia.<\/p>\n
The foreign interference charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.<\/p>\n
Alleged Russian spies charged with new offence<\/a><\/p>\n Crown prosecutors presented a new bench charge for the couple of conspiracy to commit espionage.<\/p>\n It is not the first time that police have accused Russia of orchestrating foreign interference in Australia.<\/p>\n Australia has been one of Ukraine’s most prominent supporters after Russia’s invasion and has funnelled about $1.8 billion to the country in military, economic and humanitarian support over the past four years.<\/p>\n That seems to have coincided with a campaign of Russian espionage in Australia.<\/p>\n In 2024, two Russian-born Australian citizens, married couple Kira and Igor Korolev, were arrested and accused of allegedly attempting to gather and send state secrets to Russia.<\/p>\n Russian hackers warning<\/a><\/p>\n The hackers are targeting systems in defence, energy and communication sectors.\u00a0<\/p>\n