SAS veterans 'training Putin's forces to fight in Ukraine'

The memo was compiled for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) based on interviews with two former Australian special forces operatives as well as an active-duty reservist.

It alleged they were approached to become instructors at training camps in Bulgaria and Serbia that allegedly hosted Russian clients, reports The Telegraph.

According to the memo, a combat camp run by a military training company named Alfa-Metal employs instructors from “a range of backgrounds” including the SAS, the Australian Commando Regiment, US police forces and the US Navy Seals.

The company, based in Mejdeni, northern Bulgaria, offers special forces training and advanced sniper courses for around €4,000 (around £3,436) per person.

Officially, the company targets prospective members of private military companies, bodyguards and corporate security teams.

However, since 2022, when the invasion of Ukraine began, private training camps in Europe have continued to accept Russian citizens for training courses including "advanced close quarters combat."

The company also posted a job advertisement for SAS veterans to work at the centre on LinkedIn.

According to the LinkedIn post, which was first published around six months ago, was looking for a "UK citizen" with "a strong operational background and proven instructional experience".

It added: "We’re currently looking for an experienced SAS instructor to join our team.

"If you’re passionate about training, professionalism, and raising standards, we’d love to hear from you."

Alfa-Metal seems to be linked with Alfa Region, a Russian private security company based in St Petersburg.

Alfa Region offers courses for private military contractors and instructors with "extensive experience in special forces and police units in Bulgaria, the United States, Russia, Greece, Israel and Ukraine".

Alfa-Metal initially denied any link to Alfa Region and attributed the claim to a confusion over "similarity between the names of independent legal entities".

However, when it was put to them a page on Alfa-Metal’s website that referred to a "partnership agreement" with Alfa Region, a spokesman told The Telegraph the centre had "historical professional contacts" with the company and had "initiated a review of archived marketing materials" to correct "outdated content".

Sources suggested the details of the memo was now being investigated by the Australian SIS, with findings likely to be shared with the UK and US through the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network.

It is illegal in both the UK and Australia for former special forces staff to use their training to assist a foreign state.

However, several SAS sources disputed claims that veterans from the elite regiment had been used, adding such actions would be a betrayal of their values.

One source said: "The SAS is a small community, and people talk...If people were doing that, we’d know. If anyone was doing this, I’d be incredibly surprised and deeply disappointed.

"There are about 5,000 SAS veterans, but there are easily 25,000 more people claiming to be part of the regiment because it suits their CVs. There are a lot of liars out there."

The Alfa-Metal spokesman told The Telegraph: “Alfa-Metal categorically rejects the allegation that we have used or are using former members of the British SAS or other Western special forces to train Russian nationals or individuals intending to participate in the war in Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

"This allegation is false."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told GB News: "It is longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment on UK Special Forces or intelligence matters.

"We have robust legislation in place to tackle foreign hostile activity, and the National Security Act gives our intelligence agencies and police the tools they need to detect and disrupt threats."