Joshua Cammidge, 31, from Swindon, has been charged under the National Security Act. He faces charges of assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparatory conduct, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Cammidge allegedly received instructions from an individual believed to be linked to the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia's military intelligence agency. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Counter Terrorism Policing London officers, supported by Wiltshire Police, arrested Mr Cammidge at an address in Swindon on Friday. He was then taken to a London police station, and searches were conducted at a different Swindon address, the Metropolitan Police said. He was further arrested and detained under the National Security Act on Saturday.