Swedish authorities have detained a 33-year-old Swedish citizen on suspicion of serious espionage on behalf of Russian intelligence. This was reported by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) and the country’s prosecutor’s office.
A man living in central Sweden was arrested on January 4, 2026. On January 7, the Stockholm District Court ruled to keep him in custody. According to the investigation, the suspect had been engaged in espionage since at least 2022, although the official charges relate to the period from January 2025 to the moment of his arrest.
The suspect previously worked as an IT consultant for a company that provided services to the Swedish Ministry of Defense and the Swedish Armed Forces between 2018 and 2022. He had access to sensitive information related to the military sphere.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, who is leading the investigation, said preliminary evidence points to the suspect’s ties to Russian intelligence services.
“At this stage of the investigation, there is reason to believe that the man was acting on behalf of Russian intelligence. This is a very sensitive case, and we are continuing to establish all the circumstances,” the prosecutor said.
The suspect denies his guilt. His lawyer, Hanna Lindblom, said that her client completely rejects the charges.
The investigation is continuing under the supervision of Säpo. The Swedish government has already been informed about the case. The name of the detainee is not being disclosed in the interests of the investigation.