FSB Arrests German Accused of Fighting for Ukraine

Oct. 21, 2026 A man, identified as a German military veteran, arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service FSB Russia’s FSB security service has arrested a German citizen accused of serving as a mercenary for the Ukrainian military before deserting his unit, Russian state media reported Wednesday. The man, who was identified only by his birth year of 1976, is reportedly a former German military veteran with a history of combat deployments in Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria. The FSB claimed the man also served as a sniper in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit between 2016 and 2018 near the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. In a video interrogation published by the state-run TASS news agency, the German national said he had left for Switzerland after completing his contract. He said he re-entered Ukraine in November 2025 and signed a new three-year contract in December. “I was promised 100,000 hryvnias ($2,200). However, I didn’t receive the money and was forced to flee the ranks of the armed forces of Ukraine,” the man said. The Moscow Times could not independently verify whether the confession was made under duress. Russia’s FSB did not specify when or where his detention took place. It said investigators were preparing to charge him with mercenary activities under Russian law. The arrest follows a similar incident last Thursday, when the FSB announced the detention of a Swedish national in the northwestern Pskov region on allegations of illegal border crossing and sabotage. Read more about: Germany , FSB , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Warns Germany Against Supplying Taurus Missiles to Ukraine Russia said it would treat Ukrainian strikes on transport infrastructure using the German long-range missiles as "direct participation" in the conflict... 2 Min read Germany Could Send Troops to Future Ukraine Buffer Zone: Minister Boris Pistorius also said Germany should aim to spend around 3% of GDP on defense. 2 Min read FSB Kill 4 Ukrainian 'Saboteurs' Attempting to Enter Russia Russia's FSB domestic security agency announced on Monday that it had killed a group of saboteurs from Ukraine attempting to cross into a Russian border... Witkoff Arrives in St. Petersburg for Meeting With Putin The White House envoy is expected to discuss Ukraine peace negotiations with Putin and the potential release of an American imprisoned in Russia. 3 Min read