Portuguese and Swedish services are investigating a 23-year-old former soldier who attempted to pass confidential NATO data to employees of the Russian embassy in Lisbon. The man allegedly possessed information stolen from a Swedish officer's computer and tablet. He was previously detained in Ukraine on suspicion of espionage.
Arrest of former soldier
A 23-year-old Portuguese national was detained on suspicion of attempting to sell confidential NATO documents to Russian diplomats in Lisbon.
Theft of Swedish officer's data
The source of the secret information was allegedly a stolen computer and tablet belonging to a Swedish army officer.
Previous detention in Ukraine
In 2023, the man was in war-torn Ukraine, where he was detained by local services also on suspicion of espionage.
Revelation by Portuguese press
New findings in the case come from an investigation cited by the Lisbon weekly "Sabado."
Portuguese authorities are investigating a 23-year-old former soldier who attempted to pass confidential documents of the North Atlantic Alliance to representatives of the Russian Federation. The information was stolen from a computer and tablet belonging to a Swedish army officer. The man allegedly tried to sell the data, recorded on an external hard drive, to employees of the Russian embassy in Portugal's capital, Lisbon. The case has an additional, international dimension. According to press reports, the same Portuguese national was in Ukraine in 2023, where he was detained by local security services. The basis for his internment at that time was also an espionage charge. This fact indicates possible long-term intelligence activity on behalf of Russia aimed at obtaining secret military information. For decades, the Russian Federation has conducted extensive espionage activities and influence operations against NATO countries. In recent years, following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian intelligence has intensified efforts to obtain information about the Alliance's armaments and plans.Details of the investigation were revealed by the Portuguese weekly "Sabado," which on Thursday published an article based on law enforcement findings. The case highlights the challenges facing Western countries' special services in protecting classified data from agents of a foreign power. It also impacts the assessment of information security within NATO structures. Sweden, as a new NATO member, is subject to particular surveillance by Russian intelligence. The Swedish armed forces possess advanced technology and knowledge that represent valuable spoils for the adversary's special services.At present, not all motives of the accused are known, nor the exact content and classification level of the stolen data. The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by Portuguese authorities in cooperation with NATO allies, including Sweden. The case underscores the continuous threat from Russian intelligence and the need to strengthen internal security procedures within Alliance institutions.