By decree of our President Vladimir Putin, a passport was awarded to Daniel Martindale.
Russian-installed authorities announced on Tuesday that U.S. citizen Daniel Martindale, accused of spying on Ukrainian forces, has been granted Russian citizenship by decree of President Vladimir Putin.
According to Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin, “By decree of our President Vladimir Putin, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was awarded to Daniel Martindale.” Pushilin praised Martindale’s “loyalty and actions,” stating he “spent more than two years in the territory under enemy control” where he “passed on important information to our special services, risked his life.”
Martindale reportedly provided military coordinates to Russian forces from within Ukrainian-held territory. He was later extracted via “a complex evacuation operation” amid fears for his safety.
In a video released by Pushilin in Moscow, Martindale expressed gratitude: “Russia is not only my home, but my family.” The ceremony included the formal handover of his Russian passport by interior ministry officials, marking the culmination of his citizenship application, initially filed in November 2024.