Russia arrests German, calls him Ukraine mercenary after alleged pay dispute

FSB outlines its accusations

The FSB announced the arrest on Wednesday, describing the unnamed German as an active member of Ukraine’s armed forces. It said he was born in 1976 and released a short video in which he speaks German.

According to the agency, he served in the Bundeswehr from 1996 to 2010 and was deployed to Afghanistan and Somalia from 2004 to 2010. The FSB also alleged that he fought as a mercenary in Syria’s civil war.

The agency said he fought in eastern Ukraine against Russian-backed rebels from 2016 to 2018. It claimed he returned to Ukraine in 2025, fought in Donetsk and later deserted because he was not paid.

Germany offers no case details

The FSB did not say why the man was in Russia or explain where and how he was arrested. It also did not identify him by name.

Other foreign nationals detained

Russia has detained hundreds of foreign nationals since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, accusing them of offenses including espionage, sabotage and treason. Such charges can carry lengthy prison sentences.

Last week, the FSB arrested a Swedish national, alleging he commanded a drone unit for Ukraine and was trying to cross into Russia illegally in the western Pskov region. A Japanese journalist was also arrested last week on an espionage accusation, drawing sharp criticism from Tokyo.