Vienna, the Austrian city known for its relatively neutral stance towards delicate international cases, has recently become the host to a controversial figure: Andrii Naumov, a former general in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
He is wanted by Ukrainian authorities for fraud, illegal enrichment, and abuse of office, but the accusations go much further – Naumov is suspected of providing information to Russia before and during the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, as reported by Kiev Post.
Naumov's Escape and Route
Prior to arriving in Austria, Naumov stayed in Serbia, a country known for its sympathy towards Russia.
His departure from Ukraine occurred just hours before the Russian troop invasion in February 2022, and media investigators such as Insider reported that he fled in a convoy of several cars, taking with him large sums of money and valuable items.
In Serbia, Naumov was arrested at the border with North Macedonia for holding undeclared assets – 600,000 euros, significant amounts in dollars, and precious stones. He was sentenced to one year in prison for money laundering and released in January 2024.
Ukraine has requested his extradition, while Russia apparently had a strategic interest in Naumov, given his security experience and knowledge of Chernobyl.
Involvement in the Russian Invasion and Role at Chernobyl
Naumov held the position of head of COTIS, a state-owned company responsible for managing the exclusion zone at Chernobyl. According to the Ukrainian State Investigation Bureau (DBR), he is suspected of collecting information about security systems and other confidential data, which he allegedly transmitted to Russia.
Furthermore, there are indications that he may have been involved in planning the Russian invasion years before February 2022 or, at least, that Moscow considered him a reliable candidate for high positions in the SBU in the event of Russian control over Kiev.
The irony of fate is that Naumov, once considered close to Ivan Bakanov – a childhood friend and business partner of the current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – is now at the center of an international scandal, being used by Russian propaganda to denigrate the Government in Kiev.
Exploitation by Russian Propaganda
The Russian state TV channel NTV dedicated a 40-minute segment to Naumov, filmed in various emblematic locations in Vienna: from Leopoldsberg, in front of the monument dedicated to Ukrainian Cossacks who fought against the Ottomans in 1686, to the Danube riverbank and luxury apartments with panoramic views of the city.
The material promotes an anti-Zelensky narrative and symbolically illustrates Naumov's presence and freedom in the Austrian capital, as a message to the Russian audience.
Reaction of Austrian Authorities
Austria, known for its neutrality and ambivalence in sensitive international matters, is handling the case with caution.
The Ministry of Justice stated that extradition procedures are ongoing at the Korneuburg Regional Court, but the actual hearing has not taken place yet.
Austrian authorities have avoided commenting on any direct connection of Naumov with Russia, and the State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) has refused to provide further details, citing the confidentiality of security information.
Andrii Naumov's case reveals the geopolitical and legal complexity of security profile refugees in Central Europe.
His presence in Vienna, exploitation by Russian propaganda, and the lingering extradition procedures reflect the tensions between Ukraine, Russia, and neutral European states, while the former Ukrainian general remains a symbol of betrayal and international influence games.