US citizen who spied on Ukraine gets Russian passport
Daniel Martindale spent two years in Ukraine after Russia launched its offensive, transmitting coordinates of military facilities to Russia's secret services, according to reports in Russian state media.
'By decree of our President Vladimir Putin, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was awarded to Daniel Martindale,' Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk region said on Telegram.
Pushilin said that Martindale had 'long since proven with his loyalty and actions that he is one of us.'
'He spent more than two years in the territory under enemy control. And not only did he survive -- he helped. He supported our guys, passed on important information to our special services, risked his life,' he added.
Martindale received his passport from interior ministry officials at a ceremony in Moscow, according to state media and a video published by Pushilin.
Martindale thanked Russia for 'accepting me,' and said becoming a Russian citizen was a 'dream.'
'Russia is not only my home, but my family,' he said in Russian on the video.
After two years spying on Ukraine, he was extracted in 'a complex evacuation operation' after Moscow started to fear his life was in danger if he stayed any longer, Pushilin said.
In November 2024, state media reported Russian security forces had taken him to Russia and Martindale lodged his application for Russian citizenship.
A Telegram account purporting to be his posted that same month: 'Hello, I'm Daniel Martindale, the guy that Russian soldiers risked their lives to evacuate from the village where I had lived for two years.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Russia in favor of new peace talks with Ukraine, highlights differences between them
The Kremlin said on Monday that Moscow was in favor of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine but the two sides' positions were diametrically opposed so there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it. 'There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,' Peskov said. Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Russia favors new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them
MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Monday that Moscow was in favor of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine but the two sides' positions were diametrically opposed so there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it. 'There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,' Peskov said. Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough toward a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
13 Dead in Russian Bus Crash
Thirteen people were killed and 20 injured after a bus transporting mine workers in Russia's far eastern Yakutia region crashed early Monday, authorities said. The driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle, swerving off the road and sending the bus plummeting 25 meters (82 feet) into a ravine, according to officials. The incident took place at around 3:20 am (1820 GMT on Sunday), the local interior ministry said. It published images showing the bus overturned next to a pool of muddy water, its wheels facing upward, while another showed a twisted metal barrier on the road above. "The road accident occurred on the industrial road of the Denisovsky Mining and Processing Plant," it added. The plant mines and processes coal. Investigators said they had opened a probe into criminal negligence. Industrial accidents are common in Russia, with investigators often pointing to lax safety standards. Local authorities declared a day of mourning for Tuesday.
