Paul Whelan, the former United States (U.S.) Marine who was wrongfully detained in Russia for over five years, revealed on Sunday that he had passed information to Western officials regarding fellow prisoners sent to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine. Speaking to CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Whelan, who holds citizenship in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, described how he used illegal cellphones inside the Russian labor camp to communicate with prisoners recruited by mercenary groups like Wagner. These prisoners, primarily from Central Asia, were sent to the frontlines, often used as “cannon fodder.”
Whelan was arrested in December 2018 in Moscow on espionage charges, which he and the U.S. government have consistently denied as fabricated. He was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison, but his situation drew international attention as his detention continued through multiple U.S.-Russia prisoner exchanges. Whelan expressed deep disappointment when he was left behind in a 2022 prisoner swap that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner, and again during another exchange earlier that year for former Marine Trevor Reed.
Whelan endured harsh conditions during his imprisonment, including sleep deprivation, which he described as “torture.” He noted that guards kept lights on in his cell 24 hours a day and woke him every two hours, significantly affecting his health. Despite these conditions, he maintained hope that the U.S. would secure his release.
Whelan was eventually freed in August 2023 in a major prisoner exchange that also included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and two other journalists. His release came after years of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the United States, Russia, and other intermediaries. Since his return to the U.S., Whelan has spoken about his difficulties adjusting to normal life, expressing gratitude for his release but acknowledging ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress and other health issues stemming from his imprisonment.
During his time in Russian captivity, Whelan also stayed connected with diplomats and intelligence officials from the four countries of his citizenship, using illegal cellphones. These communications allowed him to pass along information from prisoners who had fought in Ukraine, offering insight into Russia’s recruitment and treatment of prisoners in the ongoing conflict.
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