MOSCOW — On Monday, prosecutors in Russia requested a court to impose a prison sentence of three years and three months on a French national, who is facing accusations of illegally gathering information related to military matters.

The French citizen, identified as Laurent Vinatier, was apprehended in Moscow back in June. During the proceedings, he acknowledged his involvement in the charges, paving the way for a streamlined trial that would not delve deeply into the evidence presented.

The frequency of arrests linked to espionage and the collection of sensitive information has surged in Russia, particularly since the country initiated its military operations in Ukraine in February 2022.

Vinatier’s capture coincided with rising tensions between Russia and France after remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the potential deployment of French forces to Ukraine.

Russian officials have claimed that Vinatier neglected to register as a “foreign agent” while he was engaged in gathering data concerning Russia’s “military and military-technical activities,” which the authorities argued could endanger the nation’s security.