THE dad of an ex-British soldier accused of being a Russian spy has said he is “lost for words” by his son’s actions.
Ross David Cutmore, a former soldier based in Kyiv to train troops, was arrested last month on suspicion of working for Putin’s ruthless FSB to “carry out targeted killings on the territory of Ukraine ” in 2024 and 2025.
British military instructor Ross David Cutmore was arrested last month on espionage chargesCredit: East2West
Andriy Parubiy was assassinated in broad daylight in AugustCredit: East2West
Ukrainian nationalist Demyan Hanul was killed in OdessaCredit: East2West
Ukrainian former MP Iryna Farion was shot in the head outside her homeCredit: Getty
His father, Ross John Cutmore, has now said he is in “shock” and finds the whole ordeal “embarrassing”.
When asked if he was surprised at the news, Ross John replied: “That’s the understatement of the year.”
He added: “I’m just a normal person. I go to work. Just living my life – normal family.”
The veteran Scot was also quick to show his support for Ukraine, saying that “they’re fighting the oppressors”.
Of his alleged traitor son, Ross John said: “You make your own choices in life.
“There is a right path and a wrong path.”
40-year-old Ross David is alleged to have helped arm the killers of former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, nationalist politician Irina Farion, and far-right campaigner Demyan Hanul, according to Ukraine ‘s SBU spy service.
Parubiy – a key anti-Kremlin figure and ex-head of the National Security and Defence Council – was gunned down in a daylight attack in Lviv on August 30, 2025.
Farion, 60, long reviled in Moscow , was shot in the head at her home in Lviv the previous month.
And Hanul, 31, wanted in Russia for his ultranationalist activism, was murdered in Odesa in March.
Ukrainian investigators say they are now examining whether Cutmore supplied the weapons used in each killing.
The SBU claims Cutmore travelled to Ukraine earlier this year to help train troops, but after being tempted with promises of “easy money”.
He allegedly began conducting reconnaissance, sharing the locations of military training centres, and smuggling firearms and ammunition for Russian hit squads operating inside Ukraine.
Officials say he even received instructions on where to collect a loaded pistol with two magazines.
The SBU claims he was paid up to £5,000 for his work with Russian agents.
, his identity initially concealed as he was hauled into court for a closed hearing.
Ukraine’s security services confirmed his unmasking was carried out with the support of British intelligence, including MI6.
He is being held on suspicion of passing unauthorised information to Russia and conducting “reconnaissance and sabotage activities”.
Officials also allege he was preparing to stage bomb attacks.
The ex-soldier is believed to have previously served in the Middle East during his British Army career.
Cutmore, thought to be from Dunfermline and to have lived in Rosyth, now faces a potential 12-year prison sentence if convicted.
An SBU source said: “Cutmore is currently detained and in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Prosecutors in Kyiv claimed Cutmore had been in the country since January 2024 and had “conducted instructional sessions for military personnel in Mykolaiv”.
The Brit later worked for Ukrainian border units before he stopped working as a military instructor in September 2024, the prosecutors added.
He then moved to Odesa and there he “established contact with a representative of the Russian special service and agreed to provide military information for money”.
An unnamed man believed to be Cutmore was detained outside his residence last monthCredit: Reuters
He faces up to 12 years in prison if convictedCredit: Kyiv Prosecutor's Office
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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