Intelligence assessments compiled for Five Eyes alliance services indicate that former Western special operations personnel, including veterans of the British Special Air Service (SAS), have been recruited to train Russian citizens and active-duty military personnel in European camps, according to documents reviewed by British media.
Intelligence Disclosures Reveal Western Veterans Training Russians
The disclosures stem from intelligence notes prepared for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Based on testimonies from two former Australian special forces members and an active-duty reservist who were approached to work as instructors, the assessment concludes with a high degree of certainty that Western military veterans are providing tactical training to Russian nationals outside of Russia.
Operations at the Mejdeni Facility in Northern Bulgaria
The intelligence files identify a combat training facility operated by Alfa-Metal in Mejdeni, located in northern Bulgaria. According to the documents, the center employs instructors from several Western military and law enforcement backgrounds, including the British SAS, the Australian Commando Regiment, and elements of the United States Marine Corps and police forces.
Alfa-Metal offers specialized instruction ranging from sniper courses to advanced tactical combat training, with fees reported at approximately 4,000 euros per person. The training programs target corporate security teams, bodyguards, and prospective contractors for private military companies.
Training Camps Continue Accepting Russian Nationals Through 2025
Private training camps across Europe have continued to accept Russian nationals for advanced close-quarters combat training following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the intelligence documents state. Australian veterans interviewed during the intelligence gathering process reported that facility personnel indicated Russian clients were trained at the sites as recently as 2025.
Open-Source Indicators and Public Recruitment Evidence
Alfa-Metal’s public website features the SAS logo on a team profile page, and the company has previously utilized LinkedIn to advertise positions for former British SAS personnel with extensive operational and instructional experience. Similar documentation points to the involvement of U.S. veterans who served within U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Links to Saint-Pétersbourg Firm and Company Denials
Alfa-Metal reportedly maintains connections with Alfa Region, a private security firm based in Saint-Pétersbourg that promotes the Bulgarian training camp on its website. Alfa Region advertises instruction tailored for private military contractors and led by veterans of international special forces and police units. Representatives for Alfa-Metal denied to media outlets that the company employs former SAS personnel or maintains formal ties with British special forces.
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