Suspected Russian Spy Charged with Gathering Info from American Citizens Using Fake Identity

The US Justice Department has charged a Russian national, Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, with acting as an agent of a foreign power, visa fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and other charges in connection with illegal activities in the US. Cherkasov allegedly entered the US under a fake identity and gathered information from American citizens about the then-looming Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is currently jailed in Brazil, where he is charged with identity theft and fraud. The Russian government has confirmed that Cherkasov is a Russian citizen and has requested his extradition from Brazil.