British Man Goes to Prison for Spying in Ukraine

May 12, 2026, 17:53
EuropeInternational

Introduction

A man from Scotland must go to prison for eight and a half years. He spied for Russia in Ukraine.

Main Body

Ross David Cutmore went to Ukraine in January 2024. He taught soldiers. In September, he moved to Odesa. He talked to Russian people online. A Russian agent paid him money to steal secrets. Cutmore sent secret information to Russia. He sent photos of military bases and names of soldiers. He also looked at military buildings in Odesa. Russia paid him 6,000 US dollars. Cutmore also learned how to make bombs. He had an illegal gun. The police caught him in October 2025. He told the court that he did these things.

Conclusion

Ross David Cutmore is now in prison for eight years and six months.

Learning

🕒 The 'Finished' Action

Look at these words from the story:

  • went
  • taught
  • moved
  • talked
  • paid
  • sent
  • looked
  • caught
  • told

These words tell us about things that happened in the past and are now finished.

The Pattern: Most of the time, we just add -ed to the end of the word to move it from 'now' to 'before'.

  • Move → Moved
  • Talk → Talked
  • Look → Looked

The 'Rule Breakers': Some words change completely. You have to memorize these because they don't follow the -ed rule:

  • Go → Went
  • Teach → Taught
  • Pay → Paid
  • Send → Sent
  • Catch → Caught
  • Tell → Told

Why this matters for A2: To tell a story or describe your day, you must stop using 'now' words (Present) and start using these 'finished' words (Past).

Vocabulary Learning

man (n.)
a male adult
Example:The man walked into the room.
prison (n.)
a place where people are kept as punishment
Example:He was sent to prison for five years.
years (n.)
units of time, each lasting 365 days
Example:She has lived here for many years.
spied (v.)
watched secretly
Example:He spied on the enemy.
taught (v.)
gave lessons or instruction
Example:She taught us how to read.
soldiers (n.)
people who fight for a country
Example:The soldiers marched in line.
moved (v.)
changed location
Example:She moved to a new city.
talked (v.)
had a conversation
Example:They talked about their plans.
online (adv.)
using the internet
Example:I bought the book online.
agent (n.)
a person who works for a secret service
Example:The agent reported the findings.
paid (v.)
gave money in exchange for something
Example:He paid the bill.
money (n.)
currency used for buying goods
Example:She saved her money.
steal (v.)
take something without permission
Example:The thief tried to steal the watch.
secrets (n.)
private information that is not known
Example:They kept the secrets safe.
sent (v.)
delivered to someone
Example:She sent the letter.
secret (adj.)
not known or hidden
Example:He kept a secret.
information (n.)
facts or knowledge about something
Example:The report gave useful information.
photos (n.)
pictures taken with a camera
Example:She took many photos.
military (adj.)
relating to soldiers or armed forces
Example:The military plan was strict.
bases (n.)
places where soldiers stay or operate from
Example:The bases were on the coast.
looked (v.)
examined or observed
Example:She looked at the building.
buildings (n.)
structures with a roof and walls
Example:The city has many buildings.
learned (v.)
gained knowledge or skill
Example:He learned to speak French.
make (v.)
create or produce
Example:She can make a cake.
gun (n.)
a weapon that shoots bullets
Example:He had a gun.