A British man has been charged with assisting a Russian intelligence service by allegedly volunteering to sabotage drone manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom. Joshua Cammidge, 31, from Swindon, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in early September facing charges under the National Security Act related to purported efforts to aid Moscow’s military intelligence agency.

According to court documents, Cammidge is accused of providing detailed information about four drone production sites in Swindon, including addresses and operational specifics of one factory, between March 27 and September 5 of this year. Prosecutors allege he conducted reconnaissance on the locations and investigated a wifi-jamming device as part of a planned sabotage operation. It is claimed that Cammidge offered to set fire to one of the factories near his home, motivated by a declared allegiance to Russia rather than financial reward.

Evidence presented to the court includes dozens of Telegram messages exchanged with a fellow British citizen fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine, identified as Aiden Minnis. The messages reportedly discuss the locations and logistics of drone manufacturing facilities and explore methods to disrupt their operations. Prosecutors said Cammidge mistakenly believed Minnis had been killed on the battlefield but continued communications until early September.

Cammidge did not enter a plea at his initial hearing and has denied the charges, which include assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparing to commit sabotage. He has been remanded in custody ahead of a next court appearance at the Old Bailey scheduled for September 25.

The case has drawn attention amid growing concerns over threats to national security linked to foreign state-backed groups. UK authorities have designated the GRU Volunteer Corps, a proxy group controlled by Russia’s military intelligence service (GRU), as a state-sponsored entity under recently introduced legislation targeting hostile foreign organizations. The Volunteer Corps is believed to coordinate activities that seek to undermine British interests and those of its allies.

Following Cammidge’s arrest on September 4, counterterrorism officers from London, assisted by Wiltshire police, took him into custody. Security Minister Dan Jarvis commended the police for acting swiftly to neutralize what he described as a “potential threat” to the UK and reiterated the government’s commitment to prosecuting anyone attempting to compromise national security.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the extent of Cammidge’s alleged involvement and potential connections to broader hostile intelligence operations.