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last mo.

Putin Grants Russian Passport to American Who Spied on Ukraine

Russian-installed Donetsk leaders have hailed his loyalty oath as evidence of foreign support for Moscow’s war effort.

Daniel Martindale, a U.S. citizen who helped Russia from inside Ukraine, speaks after receiving a Russian passport, in Moscow, Russia, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released July 15, 2025. Denis Pushilin via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
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Overview

  • On July 15, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding Daniel Martindale a Russian passport.
  • At a televised ceremony in Moscow, Martindale vowed to observe the Russian Constitution and described Russia as his home and family.
  • In November 2024, Russian special forces carried out a complex evacuation to bring Martindale from a front-line village in the Donetsk region to Russia.
  • Denis Pushilin said Martindale’s intelligence on Ukrainian positions helped plan the seizure of Kurakhove and other strategic operations.
  • The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the espionage allegations and Russia’s decision to naturalize an American citizen.