Russia's FSB has detained 35-year-old Swedish citizen Freddy Mikael Ståhlkrantz Lindholm, who previously served in the Ukrainian army. Russian special services claim he illegally crossed Russia's border to commit sabotage at military facilities, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Russian Service.
According to the FSB, from January to June 2026, the detainee served under contract in a unit of unmanned aerial vehicle systems of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He allegedly came to Russia under the guise of wanting to join the Russian army, in order to then carry out sabotage.
In a video recording published by the FSB, the detainee identifies himself as Freddy Mikael Ståhlkrantz Lindholm.
The "Agentstvo" (Agency) publication found a video of the Ukrainian Foreign Recruitment Center, published in February 2026. In it, a man resembling the detainee says he came from Stockholm and decided to join Ukraine's International Legion.
Journalists also found a decision by a Ukrainian court dated June 22. According to it, a full namesake of the detainee was fined 17,000 Hryvnias (about 380 dollars) for appearing at a military unit with signs of alcohol intoxication. From a document shown by the FSB, it follows that two days prior to this, he was dismissed from the unit because he did not pass his probationary period.
Swedish TV channel SVT contacted Lindholm's relatives. They confirmed that he participated in hostilities on Ukraine's side and spent some time there. One relative said that the Swede returned home after about six months of service, and recently left for Ukraine again. What he did after returning is unknown to the relative.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that he currently only has information from the media. Swedish authorities intend to clarify the circumstances of the detention.
In Russia, a criminal case has been opened against Lindholm for illegally crossing the state border. The FSB is also considering the possibility of charging him with mercenarism and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization.
On October 9, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, after the detention in Montenegro of Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the pro-war project 'Rybar', stated that Russia might have to replenish its 'exchange fund' at the expense of citizens from European countries and the USA. Later, Zvinchuk, his wife, and three other project employees were expelled from Montenegro to Russia.
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