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UK service member charged with spying for Russia makes first court appearance

• 2 min read
UK service member charged with spying for Russia makes first court appearance
Metropolitan police officers patrol the streets in Stanford Hill, north London on Oct 2, 2025. (HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

A Royal Navy sailor charged with passing military secrets to Russia appeared in court in London on Oct. 8.

Under the U.K.'s National Security Act 2023, junior intelligence specialist Teddy Young, 24, was charged with two offenses for allegedly trying to pass protected information to a foreign power between November 2024 and May 2025.

"These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces," Commander Helen Flanagan, head of London's Counter Terrorism Policing unit, said. "We have worked extremely closely with relevant operational colleagues within the Ministry of Defense as our investigation has progressed to ensure appropriate measures could be taken to mitigate any potential risks linked to this matter."

Young allegedly used his security clearance to access sensitive defense and intelligence information while deployed aboard a Royal Navy warship. Young subsequently attempted to pass information to Russian authorities using the dark web, according to the Associated Press.

While Young is the first member of the British armed forces to be charged under the National Security Act 2023, he is not the first foreign national to attempt to pass on sensitive information to Russia during its war on Ukraine.

Australian authorities charged a dual Russian-Australian citizen after he allegedly joined Ukraine’s military and tried to pass on information about Ukrainian forces to people linked with Russian intelligence, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Aug. 21.

In September 2025, British police arrested three people on suspicion of espionage for Russia.

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