A Swedish national detained for illegally crossing Russia’s border, according to the FSB security service, speaks at an unidentified location, in this still image from an FSB handout video released by Russian state media on October 15, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Russian State Media via Reuters
Russia’s top domestic security agency said on Thursday (October 15, 2026) it has arrested a Swedish citizen on charges of illegally crossing the border.
The Federal Security Service, or FSB, the top successor agency to the Soviet KGB, said in a statement that the man was arrested in the northwestern Pskov region. It didn’t give his name.
The FSB said that the Swedish man had previously served with a military drone unit in Ukraine and fought against Russia. The agency added that the man said that he wanted to join the Russian military, a claim it said was a cover for his plans to carry out acts of sabotage at Russian military facilities.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it was aware of media reports but that it is “not currently handling any such matter.” The Swedish Embassy in Moscow has refused to comment.
Published – October 15, 2026 04:50 pm IST
