An American man who helped the Kremlin spy on Ukraine’s military has been personally rewarded with a Russian passport by Vladimir Putin. Daniel Martindale arrived in Ukraine shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and pretended to be a missionary, before contacting Russian intelligence services and joining the invading force after they captured the city of Vuhledar. After two years of spying on Ukraine he was eventually extracted in a “complex evacuation operation” after Moscow feared his cover would be blown and escorted to Russia. Martindale later received his citizenship in Moscow during a ceremony overseen by Denis Pushilin, the head of the annexed Ukrainian republic of Donetsk. “By decree of our President Vladimir Putin, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was awarded to Daniel Martindale,” Pushilin announced on Telegram, who said Martindale had “long since proven with his loyalty and actions that he is one of us.” He said the spy “supported our guys, passed on important information to our special services, and risked his life.” Accepting the passport in fluent Russian, Martindale said “Russia is not only my home, but my family,” and thanked the country for welcoming him. Becoming a Russian citizen was a “dream,” he added.
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