Ukrainian woman honeytraps retired US Army officer on dating app, gets secret information related to Russian Army, NATO and American plans
David Franklin Slater
, who was working as a civilian employee with top security clearance at an American air force base, through an online
dating app
to secure the information.
The 64-year-old Slater worked as an Air Force civilian employee between August 2021 and April 2022 after retiring from the
US Army
on December 31, 2020. He was posted at the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
The US Department of Justice alleged Slater sent the classified information to the woman regularly, who addressed him as her 'secret informant love' and her 'secret agent.' The classified information included Russian military targets and capabilities relating to the country's invasion of Ukraine.
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What information did Slater share with Ukranian woman?
Slater, who served in Afghanistan and Germany, transmitted information related to the travels plans of
NATO
official as well as a U.S. Senator who went to Ukraine. The Courthouse News Service website detailed some of the coversation between Slater and the Ukranian woman on the dating app.
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"By the way, you were the first to tell me that NATO members are traveling by train and only now (already evening) this was announced on our news. You are my secret informant love! How were your meetings? Successfully?" she asked Slater.
On another occasion, the woman called him beloved and sought details of plans by the Biden administration. "Beloved Dave, do NATO and Biden have a secret plan to help us?"
"Dave, it's great that you get information about [Specified Country 1] first. I hope you will tell me right away? You are my secret agent. With love."
She got in touch with Slater on April 14, 2022, just three weeks after Russia launch its military offensive against Ukraine and thanked him for providing inflrmation related to US senators travelling to Kiev. "My sweet Dave, thanks for the valuable information, it's great that two officials from the USA are going to Kiev."
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The same day two Republican leaders - U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Victoria Sparks - were in Kiev. They were the first US officials to treavel to Ukraine following the Russian attack.
He was arrested in March 2024 and pleaded guilty to the charges, stated DoJ in a press release dated July 10, 2025. Slater provided classified information relating to the national defense "on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022".
"The defendant, an employee of the United States Air Force with access to some of our Nation's most closely held secrets, shared classified information with someone claiming to be a foreigner on an online dating platform. The Department of Justice stands ready to hold accountable those who violate their obligation to protect sensitive national security information entrusted to them," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.
Lesley A. Woods, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, added, "Access to classified information comes with great responsibility. David Slater failed in his duty to protect this information by willingly sharing National Defense Information with an unknown online personality despite having years of military experience that should have caused him to be suspicious of that person's motives."
The information which Slater transmitted to the woman was classified as 'SECRET'. It could be used against the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, the release added.
Slater was present at USSTRATCOM briefings on the Russia-Ukraine war and the information shared with the attendees were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI).
He now faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sentencing is scheduled on October 8, 2025.
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