Former Australian special forces personnel are alleged to have been recruited to train Russian nationals at private military camps in Serbia and Bulgaria, according to an intelligence memo that has prompted warnings in Canberra that such activity could amount to treason.
The document is based on interviews with two former Australian special forces operatives who said they were approached about working as instructors at a Serbian training company. It does not establish that either man accepted the offer or that any Australian has definitely trained Russian troops.
The camp advertises advanced sniper instruction, close-quarters combat and other specialist military courses. Its website promotes training for Russian military operators, while its internet domain is hosted in Moscow. The company has also reportedly provided instruction to Chinese personnel.
Claims of Western veterans training Russian nationals
A separate facility in Bulgaria is alleged to employ instructors with backgrounds including the British SAS, Australia’s Commando Regiment and the US Navy SEALs. A third organisation is said to accept participants regardless of nationality and to publish course material in Russian and Chinese.
The intelligence assessment was reportedly prepared for Australia’s foreign intelligence service and shared within the Five Eyes network. It is said to have concluded with a high level of confidence that Western military veterans had been recruited to train Russian citizens, including serving military personnel.
However, the claims have not been independently established. Alfa-Metal, the Bulgarian company linked to one of the camps, has rejected allegations that it has employed former SAS personnel or trained Russian nationals since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The company has also denied having ties to British special forces. Its public material describes courses for private military contractors, bodyguards and security personnel, and refers to instructors with experience in special forces and police units from several countries.
Andrew Hastie, a former SAS officer and Liberal MP, said Australians who trained Russian forces while Australia was supporting Ukraine could be committing treason.
“They’d effectively be committing treason against Australia, given that we are assisting Ukraine in the war against Russia,” he said.
Mr Hastie added that he remained confident in the professionalism and ethics of serving Australian special forces personnel.
Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko described the implications of Russian soldiers receiving Western instruction in stark terms, saying: “A Russian soldier means death, torture, rape, killing.”
Australian law requires authorisation for some foreign military work
The Australian Defence Minister declined to discuss the intelligence in detail. Defence has confirmed that legislation regulating overseas work came into force on 6 May 2024.
Under the Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets provisions, certain former Australian Defence Force and Defence personnel must obtain authorisation before working for, or providing military training to, the armed forces or government bodies of specified foreign countries.
The rules can also apply to Australian citizens and permanent residents involved in some forms of military instruction. Breaches carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, although the legislation is not retrospective.
Australia has supported Ukraine with military equipment and training since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The allegations have raised concerns that former personnel with specialist knowledge could instead be helping forces aligned with Moscow.
