Canada Arrests Military Intelligence Officer Over Alleged Information Leak to Ukraine

Canadian authorities have arrested a military intelligence officer on suspicion of passing classified information to a foreign party, possibly Ukraine.

The Globe and Mail reported, citing an anonymous source, that the suspect is Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar.

According to the newspaper, the arrest took place last week, and the charges relate to several instances involving the transfer of highly sensitive state information.

Officials have not publicly confirmed which country allegedly received the information.

However, a source cited by The Globe and Mail said Robar was attempting to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia.

At a court hearing on December 15, Robar was released from military custody under strict conditions.

These include the surrender of regular and diplomatic passports, as well as a ban on contact with diplomats or representatives of foreign states.

The military prosecutor said the suspect’s actions did not pose a national security threat comparable to that posed by the Jeffrey Delisle case.
Delisle was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2012 for passing classified information to Russia.

Prosecutors also said Robar did not act for financial gain and did not intend to harm Canada.

Matthew Robar has served as an intelligence officer since 2007 and in counterintelligence roles since 2019.

Previously, it was reported that a Russian cosmonaut was suspended from a SpaceX mission on suspicion of espionage.