The Telegraph obtained an intelligence assessment prepared for the Australian Security Intelligence Service (ASIS). The document, described as having a “high degree of confidence,” states that veterans of Western special forces units may have been involved in training Russian citizens, including serving Russian military personnel.
The information is based on testimony from two former Australian special forces personnel and a current reservist. They were offered instructor positions at private training facilities in Bulgaria and Serbia that accepted Russian clients.
A key focus of the investigation is the Bulgarian Alfa-Metal training center. Its areas of specialization include CQB, urban warfare, sniping, small-unit tactics, tactical medicine, firearms training and courses for private military contractors.
In 2026, Alfa-Metal is offering a 14-day PMC course costing €3,440. The listed instructors are American and European specialists with military and operational experience.
The center also officially advertised a position for an SAS Instructor on LinkedIn. Requirements included British citizenship and operational and instructional experience.
Among the specialists presented by Alfa-Metal was an American who claimed 12 years of service with the US Army Special Operations Command, as well as training in Ranger, airborne, long-range surveillance, jungle warfare and scout swimmer programs.
According to the intelligence assessment, Russian citizens continued to train at European facilities after the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Alfa-Metal employees allegedly confirmed the presence of Russian trainees as recently as 2025. One of the programs mentioned was Advanced Close Quarters Combat.
There is a direct Russian connection.
The St. Petersburg-based private security company Alfa Region promoted the Bulgarian center and its courses for private military contractors. Its materials mentioned instructors with experience serving in special forces units in Bulgaria, the United States, Russia, Greece, Israel and Ukraine.
Alfa-Metal initially denied any connection with Alfa Region. Journalists found a reference to a partnership agreement on the company’s own resources. Alfa-Metal subsequently acknowledged “historical professional contacts” with the Russian organization.
At the same time, the company denies training Russian citizens after 2022 and denies involving SAS veterans in their training. The Telegraph was also unable to independently confirm the key claims contained in the intelligence document.
ASIS is reviewing the material. The findings may be shared with the United Kingdom and the United States through the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
If the information is confirmed, this would not be a matter of just a few private instructors. It would indicate a possible channel for transferring Western capabilities in CQB, sniping, small-unit tactics, reconnaissance and tactical medicine to Russian military personnel.
During Russia’s war against Ukraine. On European territory. With the involvement of veterans of Western special operations forces.
The key questions are: how many Russians received such training, at which facilities, who paid for it, and where these individuals are fighting today.