A Russian man who crossed into Finland without permission has been returned to Russia, according to the North Karelia Border Guard.
The agency said it was releasing information about this individual case because claims about the man's background had circulated publicly.
Yle earlier reported that Finnish authorities were holding a Russian national who had served in the Wagner private military company. The man, whose first name is Yevgeny according to Yle's information, told Finnish officials he was fleeing the war.
The Border Guard has now confirmed that the deported man had a military background but declined to provide further details.
Military ties identified after arrest
The man's military background was discovered after his detention, the agency said.
The North Karelia Border Guard apprehended him in Kitee on 17 June after he crossed illegally from Russia in a wooded area along the border. The man was detected through the agency's surveillance system.
According to Yle, sensors along the Finnish border triggered an alert, leading a patrol to take him into custody.
Yle has also identified several images showing Yevgeny in eastern Ukraine, in which he states he took part in the fighting. He has presented himself as a Wagner fighter on his public social media accounts, where he has posted videos criticising Russian military leadership.
Finnish authorities previously confirmed to Yle that the man had applied for international protection in Finland.
