Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday it has arrested a Swedish citizen in the northwestern Pskov region on allegations of illegally crossing the border to carry out sabotage attacks against military facilities.
An FSB video published by the state-run news agency TASS showed the man identifying himself through an interpreter as 35-year-old Freddy Michael Stålkrantz Lindholm.
In a statement on its website, the FSB said it had detained Lindholm in the Sebezhsky district near the border with Latvia and Belarus. It did not indicate from which country he crossed into Russia.
The FSB claimed he crossed into Russian territory under the guise of enlisting in the Russian military, with the alleged intent of committing “sabotage and terrorist acts at military facilities.”
The FSB said Lindholm served as a contracted service member in Ukraine from February to June this year as a squad commander operating drones.
In the interrogation video, Lindholm said he had signed a military contract with the Aidar battalion, which Russia has banned as a terrorist organization.
He also said he signed the contract in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, where he underwent training to operate reconnaissance drones and later instructed other recruits.
The FSB reported that Lindholm was charged with illegally crossing the state border and added that he also faces charges of participating in a terrorist organization and mercenary activities.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it was aware of media reports about the detention, but was not currently involved in the case. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Reuters contributed reporting.
