Swedish authorities have detained a 33-year-old former IT consultant to the Armed Forces on suspicion of espionage on behalf of Russian intelligence.
According to the prosecution, the suspected criminal activity occurred throughout 2025 and into 2026, although investigators believe the alleged spying may have begun as early as 2022, the year Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing national security investigation.
Swedish media, citing an Armed Forces spokesperson, reported that the suspect lives in central Sweden and worked with the military between 2018 and 2022 as a consultant via an IT services company. The man is also registered as the head of a cybersecurity firm focused on so-called “offensive cyber operations,” which reportedly has no recorded turnover.
Sweden, a strong supporter of Ukraine, has been a frequent target of Russian cyber espionage and hybrid operations, including suspected sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea.