US Citizen Who Assisted Russia in Ukraine Receives Russian Passport from Putin.

Daniel Martindale, a US citizen, has received a Russian passport from President Vladimir Putin after helping the Kremlin target Ukrainian troops and being spirited out of eastern Ukraine by Russian special forces. Martindale, who grew up in the US and moved to Russia in 2018, established contact with pro-Russian forces and passed them information on Ukrainian military facilities. He was awarded the Russian passport by Moscow-installed leader Denis Pushilin, who expressed gratitude and respect for Martindale's actions.

MOSCOW, July 15 (Reuters) - Daniel Martindale, a U.S. citizen who provided crucial information to Russian forces in Ukraine, has been awarded a Russian passport by President Vladimir Putin. The move comes as a sign of gratitude and respect for Martindale's assistance, which helped Russia target Ukrainian military operations.

Martindale, who grew up on farms in upstate New York and Indiana, has a deep connection to Russia. His interest in the country was sparked during a brief trip over the border into Russia's Far East during his family's time in China. In 2018, he moved to Vladivostok to study Russian and teach English, but was deported a year later for violating labor laws. Despite this, he expressed a strong desire to return to Russia.

In 2022, Martindale entered Ukraine just days before President Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of troops into the country. He established contact with pro-Russian forces via Telegram and shared information on Ukrainian military facilities from the Donetsk region. His actions reportedly aided Russian planning to seize Kurakhove, a town near the key Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

On Tuesday, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed leader of the Russian-controlled part of Donetsk region, presented Martindale with his Russian documents, which were awarded by a decree from Putin. Pushilin expressed gratitude for Martindale's loyalty and actions, stating that the passport is a sign of respect and gratitude for his contributions.

Martindale, who now holds a Russian passport, expressed his happiness and commitment to the Russian Federation. "I, Daniel Richard Martindale, voluntarily and consciously, accepting the citizenship of the Russian Federation, swear to observe the constitution," he said in Russian during the ceremony.

Reuters was unable to contact Martindale to ask about his motivations for helping Russia. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us-citizen-who-helped-russia-inside-ukraine-granted-russian-passport-by-putin-2025-07-15/
[2] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-citizen-helped-russia-inside-100606319.html
[3] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L8N3TC0FV:0-us-citizen-who-helped-russia-from-inside-ukraine-granted-russian-passport-by-putin/