Cart
0
Western Special Forces Veterans May Have Trained Russians in Europe
A leaked intelligence assessment alleges that former Western special forces personnel may have trained Russian citizens, including active-duty military personnel, at private training facilities in Bulgaria and Serbia.
From https://alfa-metal.com
The claims surfaced publicly in September, but the underlying allegations date back further. They are now being examined by Australian intelligence, while the Bulgarian company named in the assessment denies training Russians after the 2022 invasion.
The timeline begins in 2024, when two former Australian special forces personnel and a serving reservist were allegedly approached about becoming instructors at private military training facilities in Bulgaria and Serbia. According to the assessment, the three provided information that was later incorporated into an intelligence report prepared for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.
Gear Spotlight- What Our Readers Are Picking Up
The assessment reportedly examined training involving Russian nationals and active-duty Russian personnel. It identified a Bulgarian facility operated by Alfa-Metal in the village of Mejdeni as one of the locations of concern.
Alfa-Metal advertises specialist military courses, including special forces training and advanced sniper instruction. The leaked assessment claimed that Western instructors included people with backgrounds in Britain's Special Air Service, Australia's Commando Regiment and U.S. military or police organizations.
The assessment further alleged that Russian nationals continued attending private European training facilities after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Information cited in the report indicated that Russian clients may have received advanced close-quarters combat training as recently as 2025.
There were also public traces that attracted attention. Alfa-Metal's website had displayed the SAS logo on an instructor-related page, and the company published a recruitment advertisement seeking a British instructor with special forces experience. A separate Russian security company, Alfa Region, also promoted the Bulgarian training center, although Alfa-Metal later described its relationship with the Russian company as historical professional contact.
The story became public on September 9, when The Telegraph reported on the leaked intelligence assessment. The document had reportedly been prepared for Australian intelligence and was intended for sharing within the Five Eyes intelligence network. The Telegraph said it could not independently verify the main allegations in the assessment.
On September 10, the allegations were reported more widely, including by Australian and Bulgarian media. Alfa-Metal publicly rejected the central claims, saying it had never employed former SAS personnel and had not trained Russian citizens since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company also said Russian groups had not trained at the facility since the COVID lockdown period.
That leaves the central allegation unresolved as of October 1. Australian intelligence is examining the information, and reporting indicated that any findings could be shared with Britain and the United States through Five Eyes. British officials have declined to comment on specific special forces or intelligence matters.
The timing also gives the story wider relevance. European intelligence agencies have recently been warning about increased Russian hybrid activity, including sabotage, cyberattacks and other operations against Western countries. NATO has also increased intelligence-sharing in response to suspected Russian activity across Europe. Those developments do not establish a connection to the training allegations, but they explain why claims involving Russian military personnel, Western veterans and private European training facilities are receiving intelligence attention now.
For now, the distinction is important: the intelligence assessment says the training allegations were assessed with high confidence, but the principal claims have not been independently verified, and Alfa-Metal disputes them. The investigation therefore remains the next significant development in the case.
Editor’s Note: This article distinguishes between the contents of a leaked intelligence assessment and independently established facts. The assessment was reported by The Telegraph on September 9, 2026, and is being examined by Australian intelligence. Alfa-Metal denies training Russian nationals after Russia's 2022 invasion and denies employing former SAS personnel. The Telegraph has said it could not independently verify the main allegations.
