British intelligence agencies have been working with counterintelligence from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have exposed the British instructor who is alleged to have been recruited by Russian intelligence.
The SBU has exposed Brit Ross David Cutmore who was allegedly recruited by Russia to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations in Ukraine, SBU sources told Interfax-Ukraine.
Russia’s spy agency the FSB lured Cutmore in and promised him he will make “easy money” and he has been accused of preparing to commit terrorist attacks.
The SBU source said that Cutmore arrived in Ukraine in 2024 as an instructor to help assist training units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
Cutmore is a former member of the British Army and he served in the Middle East. He was given firearms and ammunition and have been accused of carrying out “targeted assassinations” in Ukraine.
Intelligence investigators believe that Cutmore could have imported and distributed weapons, these were allegedly used in the murders of Andriy Parubiy, Demyan Hanul and Iryna Farion.
In October British intelligence and the SBU launched an operation to expose Cutmore, he was detained and he remains in custody.
Shaun Pinner, a former Ukrainian Marine and a former Russian prisoner of war wrote, “Many come to Ukraine in search of a better life, the same can be said of many Russian soldiers, who import far more foreign fighters than Ukraine ever has. I dislike the term foreign fighter, but when referring to soldiers not born in either Russia or Ukraine, it best describes those who arrived after February 2022 specifically to fight in this war.
“Travelling abroad to fight in someone else’s conflict isn’t a normal life decision. It’s usually driven by financial desperation, poor choices or the lure of adventure. For some, war offers a sense of purpose, structure and direction missing from civilian life, but I’ll cover that in more detail later.
“I learned early on that you need a filter for these people. Many arrive believing Ukraine or Russia will change their fortunes but often hide deep personal issues or unstable motivations. I divided these volunteers into three types: Believers, Killers and Runaways.
- Believers fight for what they see as a righteous cause.
- Killers thrive on violence and purpose — often unable to function in ordinary life, war gives them focus and identity.
- Runaways see war as escape or adventure, but usually bring drink or drug problems, criminal records or arrest warrants — and they’re the ones I reject instantly.
“The reasons people come are many: ideology, broken homes, the search for meaning, thrill-seeking or solidarity. Social media amplifies it all. Telegram channels, Facebook groups and encrypted chats have replaced recruiters’ offices, offering a gateway to the front with almost no vetting — open to virtually anyone.
“When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, moral outrage became manpower. Ukraine’s foreign legion swelled overnight, but there’s a darker side. When amateurs or thrill-seekers turn up chasing adrenaline or social-media clout, the fog of war becomes deadly for these self-styled “spaceship-door gunners” and “underwater knife-fighting instructors.” Once here, they’re incredibly hard to get rid of and they endanger others.”
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