A former Wagner Group fighter is in the custody of Finnish authorities after illegally crossing the border into Finland and applying for asylum, Yle reports.
The man, known by his first name Yevgeny, was apprehended by the North Karelia Border Guard on 17 June near the town of Kitee.
According to Yle, Yevgeny has publicly identified himself as a Wagner soldier on social media and recently posted videos harshly criticising Russia's military leadership for abandoning soldiers and deceiving families.
He accused Russian commanders of leaving troops "to rot in the fields" and described brutal treatment within the ranks.
The man crossed the Finnish border at Kiteen Välivaara. The area is forested and there is no border fence:
Military background and battlefield activity
Yevgeny reportedly served as a company commander in Russia's 433rd Motorised Rifle Regiment — a unit engaged in rapid and aggressive assault operations. Military expert Major (res.) Marko Eklund says such units are particularly prone to high casualties.
"The regiment is designed for quick strikes with lighter weaponry. That kind of force tends to suffer heavy losses," Eklund told Yle.
Eklund said Yevgeny's claims about the Russian army's treatment of soldiers align with known patterns.
"The Russian army has never been known as a humane military organisation. It has always tolerated horrific losses and sacrificed its own soldiers with little remorse," he said.
Yevgeny has said he voluntarily joined Russian forces in 2022 and received training from Wagner. He also claims to have fought in Bakhmut, where Wagner played a central role and has been linked to war crimes including the execution of prisoners of war.
"Wagner fighters were motivated by money. Many of them were ex-convicts without a strong ideological commitment," Eklund said. "Violence, including the killing of prisoners and punishing one's own troops for desertion or disobedience, was typical."
Social media presence and allegations of abuse
Despite publicly criticising Russia's military leadership, Yevgeny remains active on social media. He has posted videos denouncing Russian commanders and accusing them of lying to soldiers' families to avoid paying death benefits.
"If the army labels the dead as deserters, there's no need to compensate their relatives," Eklund explained.
In February 2025, Yevgeny published a video blasting Russian command, shortly after reportedly disappearing from the front following the battle for Selidovo in eastern Ukraine.
Though Yevgeny has declined Yle's interview requests, Yle has verified photos and videos that place him in combat zones in eastern Ukraine.
He is currently in Finnish immigration custody. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a preliminary inquiry to assess whether there are grounds to open a war crimes investigation. Yevgeny is not currently suspected of such crimes in Finland.
Yle has located the video below, and it is very likely from Selidovo in Ukraine. Russian forces took the town in October 2024.
The video shows a man in military uniform wearing the Wagner sleeve badge:
Ukrainian authorities reviewing evidence
The Ukrainian Embassy in Finland confirmed it is aware of the former Wagner fighter's detention. Ambassador Mykhailo Vydoinyk told Yle that Ukrainian authorities are reviewing video material to assess Yevgeny's possible involvement in war crimes.
"It's too early to comment on a potential extradition," Vydoinyk said. "These matters are only discussed after court proceedings begin. If his involvement in war crimes is confirmed, there can be no impunity."
He added that Ukraine continues to work closely with European partners on tracking and prosecuting Russian fighters. Vydoinyk noted that seven Wagner operatives were recently detained in Moldova.
"Russia will be held accountable for its crimes," Vydoinyk said.
Legal pathway remains open
Professor of criminal and procedural law Dan Helenius says Finland could pursue prosecution even if the crimes were committed abroad.
"In cases of war crimes, a commander can be held responsible not just for their own actions, but also for crimes committed by subordinates," Helenius noted.
He drew comparisons to the case of Voislav Torden, who was sentenced to life in prison in March for war crimes committed in 2014 in eastern Ukraine.
For now, no such charges have been brought against Yevgeny. However, the NBI says its preliminary investigation will conclude in early autumn 2025.
