American citizen Daniel Martindale, who had been in Ukraine since February 11, 2022, reportedly assisted the Russian military by gathering and relaying intelligence.
— He is said to have provided Russia with coordinates of Ukrainian military positions and equipment, used for strikes, and allegedly played a key role in planning the assault on the village of Bohoyavlenka near Vuhledar.
— Martindale reportedly communicated with Russian forces via Telegram, even using a phone delivered by drone. A recent operation extracted him to Russian-controlled territory.
— Photos suggest Martindale moved freely in Ukraine, likely posing as a volunteer, humanitarian worker, or journalist, which helped him avoid suspicion among locals and officials.