Lt. Col. Brandon Tyner was arrested in Britain this week on suspicion of trying to spy for Russia. The U.S. Army officer, 41, was stationed at the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Gloucestershire, about 100 miles west of London.
Two American officials said British officials are expected to charge him on Sunday or Monday. After that, the U.S. Army will seek to charge him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and transfer him to the United States.
Gloucestershire base and Army service
Tyner had served as a senior human resources officer in the Army since January 2008. He was deployed to Afghanistan for a year starting in December 2013, served in Iraq in 2019 and 2020, and worked in Qatar before that. He is the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
The case moves from a British arrest into a military proceeding that could continue on two tracks. British police said the arrest was not related to the September arrests near R.A.F. Fairford or the October arrests near R.A.F. Molesworth, and F.B.I. director Kash Patel described the case as involving “allegations of espionage.”
Kremlin response
The Kremlin denied any involvement. Dmitri S. Peskov said on Wednesday, “This arrest has nothing to do with us and we don’t know what it is connected to.” Officials have not revealed exactly what actions led to Tyner’s arrest, and it is unclear whether he passed sensitive information to Moscow.
The unresolved issue is the conduct behind the allegation. British charges are expected first, and the Army’s next move depends on that case before Tyner can be transferred to the United States under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and face military charges there.
