U.S. Farm Boy Turns Spy for Putin: Rewarded with Russian citizenship

Martindale provided detailed intelligence on Ukrainian military.

American Informant Awarded Russian Citizenship

Daniel Richard Martindale, a U.S. citizen who secretly aided Russian forces in Ukraine, has officially been granted Russian citizenship.

The rare move was authorized by a decree from President Vladimir Putin and presented to Martindale in a televised ceremony.

Handshake, Passport, and Loyalty Pledge

Russian state TV showed Martindale dressed in a suit and tie, smiling as he accepted his Russian passport from Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-backed leader of occupied Donetsk.

“Russia is not only my home, but also my family,” Martindale declared in fluent Russian.

American Helped Target Ukrainian Troops

According to officials, Martindale provided detailed intelligence on Ukrainian military positions in the strategic town of Kurakhove.

This information played a role in Russian planning to seize the area near the vital logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

A Direct Line to Russian Forces

Martindale claimed he contacted pro-Russian militias through Telegram after entering Ukraine in early 2022 — just days before Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

He began feeding them information from the Donetsk region, including military coordinates.

Russian Praise for a Foreign Loyalist

Denis Pushilin praised Martindale for his loyalty and assistance, stating that the information he provided had a direct impact on battlefield tactics.

“He is one of us,” Pushilin said. “This passport is a sign of gratitude for what Daniel did.”

From American Heartland to Eastern Front

Martindale was raised on farms in upstate New York and Indiana by missionary parents.

Later, he moved to rural China, where he first encountered Russian culture during a border visit that would leave a lasting impression.

Life in Russia, Then Deportation

In 2018, he relocated to Vladivostok, Russia’s Pacific port city, studying Russian and teaching English.

However, he was deported in 2019 for violating labor laws, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Driven to Return

After a stint in southern Poland, Martindale remained determined to return to Russia.

By early 2022, he crossed into Ukraine and embedded himself with separatist networks before the war escalated.

Public Confession in 2024

At a press conference in late 2024, Martindale publicly admitted to passing along military intelligence to Russian-aligned forces.

The revelations shocked many observers, especially given his American citizenship.

Extracted by Russian Special Forces

Russian officials claim Martindale was extracted from eastern Ukraine by Russian special forces — a rare operation for a foreign national.

He was then transported to a safer area and eventually honored for his efforts.

U.S. Government Silent on Case

Despite the high-profile nature of the incident, the U.S. State Department declined to comment on Martindale’s defection or his newly awarded Russian citizenship.

For Moscow, Martindale’s case is a propaganda victory: an American turned Russian loyalist, publicly pledging allegiance to Putin’s regime.

His story now circulates in Russian media as an example of ideological conversion.