Scottish instructor jailed in Ukraine for spying for Russia
Scottish instructor jailed in Ukraine for spying for Russia
Scottish military instructor Ross Cutmore jailed in Ukraine for spying for Russia, admitting to passing coordinates and base locations for payment.
A Scottish man, Ross David Cutmore, a former military instructor who travelled to Ukraine, has been jailed for eight and a half years after pleading guilty to spying for Russia. Cutmore, from Dunfermline in Fife, was recruited by a member of the Russian intelligence services and agreed to share information about the Ukrainian military in return for payment. He arrived in Ukraine in January 2024, teaching service personnel in Mykolaiv before moving to Odesa later that year.
Prosecutors say Cutmore transmitted the coordinates of Ukrainian units and photographs of a training area, along with details that could help identify service personnel. He also gathered data on facilities in Odesa and discussed the possibility of using explosive devices, even proposing access to the command of military units. One of his assigned tasks reportedly netted him around $6,000.
Authorities say he was exposed and detained in October 2025, with an indictment and a plea agreement submitted to the Kyiv district court of Odesa on 27 March 2026. The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office noted his actions were driven by selfish motives and intended to aid the aggressor. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson confirmed consular assistance was being provided to the British national.
The case highlights the ongoing espionage risks amid the Ukraine conflict and the broader security challenges facing Western nations. It also underscores the willingness of individuals to collaborate with foreign intelligence services in exchange for payment, and the importance of rigorous screening and counter-espionage measures in conflict zones.
