Former Western special forces personnel were allegedly recruited to train Russian citizens and active-duty military personnel at training camps in Bulgaria and Serbia, according to a leaked intelligence assessment prepared for the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Former members of Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) are alleged to have been involved in training Russians for combat, according to a leaked intelligence memo obtained by The Telegraph.

The assessment, prepared for Five Eyes intelligence agencies, concluded with “strong confidence” that Western military veterans had been recruited to provide military training to Russian nationals, including personnel described as “active duty military”.

The intelligence assessment raises fresh questions about the networks being used to provide military expertise to Russian personnel outside the country and the extent to which Western military experience may be reaching individuals who could subsequently be deployed in the war in Ukraine.

Australian intelligence report

The Telegraph was shown a copy of a memo compiled for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). The document was based on interviews with two former Australian special forces operatives and an active-duty reservist, according to the newspaper.

The three individuals reportedly said they had been approached with offers to work as instructors at military training camps in Bulgaria and Serbia.

According to their accounts, the camps allegedly hosted Russian clients seeking military training. Some of those attending were reportedly connected to Russia’s armed forces.

The claims suggest that the recruitment of Western veterans was not necessarily limited to conventional military instruction. Former special forces personnel possess expertise in areas such as small-unit tactics, weapons handling, battlefield planning, reconnaissance and survival skills, making their experience potentially valuable to foreign military personnel.

Training conducted outside Russia

The alleged use of facilities in Bulgaria and Serbia is significant because it would place the training activity outside Russian territory.

The intelligence assessment reportedly indicates that Western veterans could have been used as instructors in third countries, allowing Russian clients to receive training without the activity taking place directly inside Russia.

Neither Bulgaria nor Serbia has been accused of officially supporting such activity. The allegations concern training camps that were reportedly operating within those countries and allegedly catering to Russian clients.

The claims also raise questions over how such training networks are organised, who finances them and whether governments or private military organisations were aware of the activities.

Active-duty Russian personnel

One of the most significant elements of the intelligence assessment is the claim that the trainees included not only Russian civilians but also serving military personnel.

If substantiated, the allegation would indicate that Western military veterans were potentially passing battlefield knowledge and specialist skills to personnel serving in Russia’s armed forces.

It remains unclear from the publicly available information how many Russian military personnel were allegedly trained, what specific courses they attended or whether any of those individuals subsequently fought in Ukraine.

There is also no publicly available evidence establishing that every individual trained at the camps was later deployed to the battlefield.

Potential security implications

The allegations could have wider implications for European security.

Western special forces veterans have extensive operational experience, often acquired during deployments in conflicts in the Middle East, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Their expertise can be highly valuable in preparing troops for modern combat.

The possibility that some of that experience could have been transferred to Russian personnel would raise concerns among Western intelligence agencies, particularly as Russia continues its war against Ukraine.

It could also highlight the growing role of private military networks and former military personnel in providing specialist training outside formal government-to-government channels.

However, the intelligence assessment does not necessarily establish that the governments of Bulgaria, Serbia, Australia or Britain authorised or were directly involved in the alleged activities.

The claims remain allegations based on intelligence reporting and interviews with former military personnel. They have not been independently verified in full.

The allegations nevertheless offer a rare insight into how military expertise can move through international networks of former soldiers—and potentially reach personnel fighting on behalf of Russia in the war in Ukraine.