Exclusive:Scot jailed for spying for Russia was ousted from Ukraine military training group over 'discipline' issues
Scot who disclosed information on Ukrainian military was ‘very focused on money’, says volunteer group head
A Scottish man who has been jailed in Ukraine after he admitted spying for Russia was removed from a military training organisation due to a series of concerns around his discipline and dedication, according to its head.
Ross Cutmore was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison last month after he admitted disclosing “unauthorised information” on the location of Ukrainian units and information on foreign military trainers.
The 40 year-old shared the information about the Ukrainian military in return for payment, after being recruited to work as a Russian spy. He also collected data on facilities in the southern port city of Odesa, discussed the possibility of using explosive devices, and attempted to gain access to the command of military units, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Now, the head of a volunteer military training organisation in Ukraine has recalled Cutmore’s time with his team, describing him as someone who seemed “very focused on money,” and stressing that “there always seemed to be something slightly off about him.”
Cutmore, originally from Dunfermline in Fife arrived in Ukraine in early 2024, and went on to join the Tactical Combat Advisory Group (TCAG), which bills itself as a volunteer training and advisory organisation operating inside Ukraine, focusing on the likes of teaching NATO instructional methods, battlefield readiness, and tactical leadership.
Brad Crawford, TCAG’s founder, said Cutmore worked as an assistant instructor with the organisation, but was ultimately let go due to repeated issues.
“There were recurring concerns from the senior instructor assigned to him regarding focus, discipline, and his ability to stay engaged with the training process,” he told Scotland on Sunday. “I personally worked with him directly through numerous classes and often had to correct deficiencies during instruction and training activities.
“One thing I distinctly remember was that he always seemed very focused on money. I explained clearly from the beginning that we are a volunteer organisation.”
Mr Crawford said that towards the end of Cutmore’s time with TCAG, the “bigger issue” became his discipline and dedication. “He increasingly appeared distracted and no longer focused on the mission or supporting the Ukrainians, which is something we value very seriously as a team,” he explained.
“I had multiple sit-down conversations with him where I explained that he needed to improve his professionalism, training standards, uniform standards, and overall commitment to the mission. I made it clear that if improvement was not shown within a short period of time, we would have to remove him from the team.
“At that point, he also appeared increasingly focused on personal matters, including traveling to see a girlfriend in Odesa rather than prioritizing the responsibilities expected from him. Ultimately, we made the decision to remove him from the organisation because he was not showing the level of dedication, discipline, or forward improvement that we required.”
Mr Crawford added: “Speaking only from my personal opinion, there always seemed to be something slightly off about him. He was generally quiet and completed basic tasks, but he never demonstrated initiative, growth, or a real desire to improve himself professionally. He seemed content doing the bare minimum rather than embracing the mission and purpose of the team.”
The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office announced the arrest of a foreign national - subsequently identified as Cutmore - in October 2025. He was detained without bail.
It said that at the end of September 2024, after ceasing his activities as a military instructor, Cutmore moved to Odesa, where he established contact with a member of the Russian special services, and agreed to provide military information for money.
The prosecutor’s office, which said Cutmore “acted out of selfish motives,” said there was evidence of the Scot’s activities in May 2025 which involved transmitting the coordinates of the locations of Ukrainian units, photographs of a training area, and information regarding military personnel.
It said Cutmore was given instructions for making an improvised explosive device, as well as the coordinates of a weapons cache from which he took a Soviet-era Makarov pistol with two loaded magazines.
Prosecutors said an analysis of his correspondence confirmed that he was “carrying out other tasks in favour of the Russian special service,” which included gathering information about facilities in Odesa, negotiating the possibility of using explosive devices, and attempting to establish access to the command of military units. For one of these tasks, prosecutors said, Cutmore received $6,000 (£4,400).
The Scot was convicted and sentenced on 30 April at Kyivskyi district court in Odesa. In the aftermath of his arrest, Cutmore’s father, also Ross, told the Press Association last December that the development was “hard to take in” and a “shock.”
Mr Crawford stressed that TCAG had “no involvement” in the activities or allegations that later emerged involving Cutmore and Russia, stating: “Those events occurred roughly a year after he had already left our team and was no longer associated with us in any capacity.”
He added: “The only direct involvement we had after learning about the situation was cooperating with the Ukrainian authorities. I was personally called to Kyiv to testify and provide any information I had regarding him. We cooperated fully with the SBU [Ukraine’s security service] and the prosecutor’s office throughout the process.
“At the time, we were specifically instructed not to publicly discuss details of the case while legal proceedings were ongoing because it could negatively affect the outcome of the trial. So we remained quiet and followed the guidance we were given by the authorities.”
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