A Russian Australian man has been charged with foreign interference and faces up to 20 years jail after allegedly travelling to Ukraine to collect military intelligence to pass onto Moscow.
The 27-year-old dual citizen, identified in court as Vladimir Teslov, was arrested on Thursday in Sumner in Brisbane’s west following a lengthy investigation led by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Intelligence Security Organisation.
Teslov did not appear in court in Brisbane on Friday where he did not apply for bail and his matter was adjourned for mention on October 2.
The court heard there was an application by Dylan Kerr, for the AFP Commissioner, to suppress the identities of AFP members involved in the investigation which was granted by Magistrate Lewis Shillito.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said authorities believe the suspect travelled to Russia in October 2024, where he undertook military-style training before returning to Australia.
“In Australia, it is alleged the man maintained contact with individuals he believed were connected to Russian intelligence services,” Commissioner Barrett said.
He is then alleged to have travelled to Ukraine in May 2025, where he joined the country’s armed forces to gain access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations.
“This is the first time the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force has charged a Russian-linked individual with attempting to engage in foreign interference since new laws were introduced in 2018 to protect Australia’s sovereignty and our national interests,” Commissioner Barrett said.
“It is alleged this conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel. We allege elements of this offending occurred in Australia and offshore,” she told reporters at AFP headquarters.
“We will allege the 27-year-old man sought to provide information about Ukrainian military activities to individuals he believed were linked to Russian intelligence services.”
The AFP Commissioner said the suspect was “unemployed”, had not worked for the Australian government there was nothing to suggest that he received any military training in this country.
“A number of electronic devices and various items relevant to the investigation were seized, which will undergo extensive forensic examinations,” the AFP Commissioner also revealed.
Under Australia’s foreign interference laws, the 27-year-old Victorian man could could face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment if found guilty.
This week’s arrest followed the establishment of the AFP’s “Operation Wood Creeper” in June this year, with national security sources telling The Nightly the matter involved a “complex and lengthy” investigation.
Three years ago, Russia’s embassy in Canberra was revealed to be operating a “hive of spies”, posing as diplomats, which was uncovered and dismantled by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency ASIO.
A year later authorities arrested two Russian-born Australian citizens, Kira Korolev and her husband, Igor, who were initially charged with preparing for an espionage offence involving sending military secrets to Moscow.
In June the charges against the married couple were upgraded to conspiracy to commit espionage, which could see them jailed for life.
Last November ASIO boss Mike Burgess confirmed his organisation was also investigating several pro-Russian social media influencers in Australia who were “almost certainly” receiving directives from the Kremlin.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his attempted invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the Australian government has committed over $1.5 billion in assistance to Kyiv and imposed hundreds of sanctions against Moscow.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails