A Romanian citizen was sentenced, on Thursday, by a court in Russia to 15 years in a maximum-security penal colony, after Russian authorities accused him of transmitting military information to Ukraine.
The verdict was handed down by the Krasnodar Regional Court, which found Adrian-David Chercio guilty of espionage in favor of Ukrainian intelligence services, according to Russian media. The decision is not final.
Conviction for transmitting military information
According to the court, the Romanian collected and transmitted information about Russian military installations, including air defense systems in the area of the city of Sochi.
Russian authorities claim that on November 12, 2024, Chercio transmitted geographic coordinates and other data about an air defense system located in the Black Sea city through a messaging application.
The court concluded that he "understood that the information provided would be used against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and could cause personnel and military equipment losses, as well as other negative consequences for the state."
Russian authorities say the Romanian contacted Ukrainian services alone
According to the version presented by the court, in November 2024, Chercio independently contacted a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
During the correspondence, he allegedly received an offer promising him a safe way out of Russia in exchange for collecting information about military targets.
After accepting the proposal, the Romanian reportedly transmitted data about the positioning of air defense systems in Sochi.
Detained by FSB in 2025
The case became public in April 2025 when the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) announced that a Romanian citizen suspected of espionage had been detained in Sochi.
"In the city of Sochi in the Krasnodar region, officers detained a Romanian citizen born in 2002, involved in intelligence activities in favor of Ukrainian intelligence services," FSB reported, as cited by the Russian news agency TASS.
According to the same source, the Romanian collected information about the location of air defense systems in the city and transmitted it to Ukrainian security services.
FSB claimed that in exchange for the information, the Ukrainian services promised the Romanian a safe exit from Russia.
Additionally, according to Russian authorities, he was offered to join a unit of Ukrainian volunteers to participate in military operations against Russia.
A criminal case for espionage under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code was opened against him.