Retired US Army officer pleads guilty to leaking secrets to alleged Ukrainian woman

A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel has pleaded guilty to leaking top-secret military information related to the Russia-Ukraine war via a foreign dating app, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

David Franklin Slater, 64, admitted in court on July 10 to conspiracy charges for unlawfully sharing classified national defence information with a person he believed to be a Ukrainian woman, Caliber.Az writes via The Daily Mail.

Following his retirement from the Army in 2020, Slater worked as a civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska between August 2021 and April 2022. He was assigned to U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), which oversees America’s nuclear arsenal and is responsible for strategic deterrence.

During his tenure at STRATCOM, Slater held a Top Secret security clearance and had access to highly sensitive briefings on Russia’s military capabilities and operations in Ukraine. Despite having signed non-disclosure agreements, he deliberately shared classified details—including information about military targets—with the foreign contact.

According to court documents, Slater met the individual on a foreign dating platform, where she referred to him as her "secret love informant" and "secret agent."

Social media activity reviewed by DailyMail.com last year revealed Slater’s apparent preference for Eastern European women, with his Facebook feed featuring numerous images of Russian and Ukrainian women.

Slater now faces sentencing for breaching U.S. national security protocols and could face significant prison time.

By Khagan Isayev