A member of the Canadian military counter-intelligence has been accused of sharing sensitive information with Ukraine while disregarding warnings to avoid contact with a Ukrainian intelligence representative. Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar is facing eight charges under the National Defence and Security of Information acts, including the communication of “special operational information” to a foreign entity.
According to unclassified military court records, Robar, a seasoned operative who previously taught at the Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence in Kingston, Ontario, was allegedly unauthorized to engage with the Ukrainian representative or utilize them as a confidential source. The court documents further claim that Robar disclosed the identity of another Canadian intelligence officer involved in covert information gathering activities on behalf of Canada.
The specific country involved is undisclosed in the court records, but confidential sources have identified it as Ukraine, an important ally of Canada. Similarly, the identity of the “foreign entity” Robar communicated with remains unknown.
Allegations suggest that Robar attempted to establish a direct relationship with Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency and explored the possibility of working for them. He was introduced to a foreign intelligence representative during an investigation into concerns related to the Canadian Armed Forces, leading to ongoing discussions about an unidentified “unconventional” project aimed at securing allied funding and support.
Despite facing obstacles and rejections, Robar persisted in pursuing the project, leading prosecutors to claim that he became “obsessed” with it. In late September 2024, he reportedly met the Ukrainian intelligence representative in Lithuania, accompanied by another unnamed Canadian military member who believed the trip was authorized, although it was not.
Robar allegedly misled his superiors by claiming he took his wife, a member of the Canadian foreign service, to the meeting, which investigators believe was a deliberate attempt to downplay the significance of his interaction with the foreign entity. Following a warning from a Canadian officer about dealing with the Ukrainian representative, Robar was confronted about the clandestine discussions upon his return from Europe, where it was revealed that he had shared the intelligence assessment done on the representative.
As a result of the allegations, Robar was temporarily relieved from duty in October 2024. The court records indicate that the foreign intelligence representative later sent a complaint email to a Canadian diplomat, threatening to expose the situation.
Robar is set to face a court martial in the upcoming year, with the security of information charges carrying the potential penalty of life imprisonment. The alleged actions of Robar, as described in the court documents, have been distinguished from a previous spy case involving naval intelligence officer Jeffrey Delisle passing secrets to Russia, emphasizing that Robar’s actions do not reach the same level of severity.