A Scottish man who traveled to Ukraine as a military trainer has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after admitting working as a Russian spy.Ross David Cutmore, from Dunfermline in Fife, pleaded guilty in a court in Odessa to passing sensitive military information to Russia while Ukraine remained under martial law, according to Ukrainian media Slidstvo-Info.Catmore arrived in the country in January 2024 to work as a foreign military trainer.Ukrainian authorities said he later abandoned his role and began dealing with pro-Kremlin groups online in search of what officials described as “easy money.”He was eventually recruited by an officer linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who allegedly paid him for intelligence, officials said.The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Katmur passed coordinates linked to Ukrainian military sites, details of foreign trainers and photos of training sites.He was also accused of collecting information about facilities in Odessa and trying to gain access to military command structures.In one mission, officials said he earned about US$6,000, which is equivalent to about £4,400.Ukrainian authorities also claimed that Katmur discussed possible terrorist attacks and received instructions to prepare explosive devices.He was provided with directions on assembling an improvised bomb and directed to a weapons cache containing a Makarov pistol and loaded magazines, officials said.
Counterintelligence officers arrested him in October 2024 before any planned attacks were carried out.Katmur later admitted his involvement during proceedings before the Kyiv District Court in Odessa on April 30 and agreed to cooperate with the investigation as part of a plea deal.He was convicted under Ukrainian laws on unauthorized disclosure of military information and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.
