Updated August 21, 2026 — 5:17pm,first published 11:35am
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A Russian-Australian citizen has been arrested by federal police in Brisbane over allegations he was covertly and deceptively collecting information about the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while believing he was acting for the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Teslov, a 27-year-old man from Victoria, is accused of travelling to Russia in October 2024 for military-style training, returning to Australia, and then travelling to Ukraine in May 2025 to join the Ukrainian armed forces.
He was arrested on Thursday afternoon in Sumner, in Brisbane’s south-west, following an investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force.
According to court documents, Teslov intentionally engaged in the conduct believing he was acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Russian Federation, and that it would support their intelligence activities.
Teslov allegedly committed the offences in Victoria, Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
The Australian Federal Police said elements of the offence occurred while the man was both in Australia and offshore, and they would allege his conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett told media in Canberra it was the first time a person with links to Russia had been charged with attempting to engage in foreign interference since new laws were introduced in 2018.
Police said they executed search warrants on Thursday at homes in Brisbane in Sumner and Sinnamon Park.
They then searched properties in the south-east Queensland area, including in Springwood and Petrie Terrace on Friday, before searching a person at St Lucia.
Electronic devices were seized for forensic examinations.
Teslov did not appear for his hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody for a further six weeks.
The court heard there was an application by Dylan Kerr, for the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, to suppress the identities of AFP members involved in the investigation. Magistrate Lewis Shillito granted the application.
“I am satisfied that the material contained in the open affidavit that has been filed that the nature of the charge and the intent risks pertaining to those involved in the prosecution of Mr Teslov, should their identities be made known … is such that it is in the interest of justice … to make the orders that are sought,” Shillito said.
Teslov’s lawyer, Tristan Butler-Keegan, told the court there would be no application for bail for his client, and asked for an adjournment.
The case was scheduled to be heard again on October 2.
In court documents, Teslov was listed as residing in Bentleigh, Victoria. No occupation was listed.
In her media conference, Barrett stressed there was no threat to Australia as a result of the man’s alleged offending.
“There is nothing to suggest he received any military training in Australia and, in terms of the training he undertook in Russia, that is part of our ongoing investigations,” she said.
“There is no risk of him working for an Australian government agency that would pose a risk to Australia.”
She said further charges could be laid after officers finished examining a number of electronic devices and other items seized in the Thursday arrest.
Barrett did not go into detail about what police meant when they said the man “believed” he was providing information to Russian intelligence.
She declined to say whether police had begun their investigation on the advice of Ukraine.
Asked whether the man would have been charged if he was accused of supplying Ukraine with Russian information, she replied: “We target criminal offending, not countries.
“Our job is ensuring that Australia does not become a safe haven for people who think they can conduct foreign interference on our shores. This is about sending a message.”
Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, told News24 he would work with the AFP if any support was needed in their investigation.
“Russia has been waging this war for over four years. Apparently Ukraine is a target for Russian intelligence, and they’re trying to get information in any possible way,” he said.
“Russians are trying to get any information … especially of somebody who’s spent some time with the Ukrainian military, there is lots of useful information that that would be of value.”
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Cloe Read is the crime and court reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.From our partners