Kremlin Denies Having Ties to American Soldier Arrested in U.K. for Spying

Nov. 11, 2026 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Igor Ivanko / Pool via REUTERS Russia on Wednesday rejected allegations that it was connected to a U.S. Army soldier who was arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of espionage. British counterterrorism police arrested the 41-year-old senior U.S. soldier on Tuesday near the city of Gloucester in southwestern England following a joint investigation with the FBI and U.S. Army counterintelligence. He was arrested under two sections of the U.K. National Security Act, which pertain to obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. The law allows counterterrorism police to hold him without charge for up to 14 days. British law enforcement said the country to which the allegations relate is Russia. “This arrest does not concern us in any way,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing. “We don’t know what it’s connected to. We have nothing to do with this.” FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest of the American soldier related to allegations of espionage, “which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies.” Brigadier General Sean Stanchion, the commanding general of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, called the alleged conduct of a senior soldier entrusted with sensitive information a “sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent.” Western countries have for years accused the Kremlin of espionage within their borders, as well as masterminding a string of incidents to undermine support for Ukraine. AFP and Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: United Kingdom , United States , Espionage 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 Expels British Diplomat Over Alleged Economic Espionage The British Embassy in Moscow dismissed the spying allegations and called the expulsion “completely unacceptable.” 2 Min read Britain Finds 3 Bulgarians Guilty of Spying for Russia During the three-month trial, the court heard how the six U.K.-based Bulgarians carried out an elaborate series of operations across Europe. 4 Min read UK Foreign Minister Lammy Plays Down Putin Threats On Putin, Lammy said, ‘There’s a lot of bluster. That’s his modus operandi.’ 2 Min read Moscow Accuses U.S. of Forcing False Confession From Alleged Russian Agent Maria Butina Butina pleaded guilty in a U.S. court on Thursday to a single conspiracy charge in a deal with prosecutors.