Camilla Jessen
An active-duty soldier allegedly offered sensitive military data in exchange for Russian citizenship.
A U.S. Army soldier with top secret clearance has been arrested and charged after allegedly trying to hand over sensitive military information about American tanks to a person he believed was a Russian intelligence officer, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Soldier Turned Spy
The soldier, Taylor Adam Lee, 22, of El Paso, Texas, is accused of attempting to transmit classified data about the M1A2 Abrams tank in exchange for Russian citizenship.
According to court documents, he sent the information in June and later handed off an SD card filled with controlled technical documents related to tanks, armored vehicles, and combat operations during an in-person meeting.
“Mission Accomplished”
According to news reports from The Kyiv Independent, in one instance, Lee allegedly delivered a tank component to a storage unit in Texas and followed up with a confirmation: “Mission accomplished.”
Inside a Dangerous Offer
Prosecutors allege that Lee, while still on active duty, communicated online with someone he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent.
He expressed his willingness to assist the Russian Federation “in any way” once he arrived there, and sought Russian citizenship in return for his cooperation.
Tanks Currently in Use
The Justice Department said a version of the U.S.-made Abrams tank is currently in use in Ukraine, making the potential leak of its capabilities and components of significant interest to Russian military intelligence.
Serious Charges, Serious Concerns
Lee now faces charges under the Espionage Act as well as for attempting to export controlled technical data without a license.
CNN, citing court filings, reported that federal prosecutors are seeking to keep Lee in custody without bond due to the nature of the case.
Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, stated in a DOJ release:
“This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army. It underscores the importance of constant vigilance in protecting our military secrets.”
A Pattern of Espionage
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western countries have faced an increase in covert Russian intelligence activity.
Several arrests across Europe have highlighted attempts to disrupt weapons shipments, steal battlefield intelligence, or identify key infrastructure.
