Scottish man jailed in Ukraine after admitting spying for Russia

Wednesday, 13 May 2026 12:11

A Scottish man who worked as a military instructor in Ukraine has been jailed for more than eight years after he admitted spying for Russia.

Ross David Cutmore, from Dunfermline in Fife, shared information about the Ukrainian military in return for payment, after being recruited to work as a Russian spy.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office said Cutmore "acted out of selfish motives and with the intent to transmit this data to the aggressor country".

Cutmore was jailed for eight-and-a-half years after admitting his guilt in a plea deal at the Kyiv district court of Odesa on 30 April.

According to prosecutors, Cutmore arrived in the country in January 2024 and ran classes for Ukrainian service personnel in the city of Mykolaiv.

In September that year, he moved to Odesa, where he established contact with a member of the Russian special services and agreed to send military information in return for payment.

In May 2025, a probe by the Ukrainian security service (SBU) found Cutmore had transmitted the coordinates of Ukrainian units, photographs of a training area, and information that could lead to the identification of service personnel.

He was also found to have collected data on facilities in Odesa and "discussed the possibility of using explosive devices, and attempted to gain access to the command of military units".

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One of the tasks is said to have netted him $6,000 (£4,500).

The spy also possessed a Makarov pistol and combat cartridges, which he is said to have acquired and stored illegally.

Cutmore was exposed and detained in October 2025. In March 2026, prosecutors submitted an indictment to the court, along with a plea agreement.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British man who is detained in Ukraine.

"We remain in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities."

Sky News