Finnish prosecutors have filed charges against a Russian combatant for alleged war crimes committed in 2014 while fighting against Ukrainian forces in a Russian-backed separatist region of Ukraine. The suspect, identified as Russian national Yan Petrovsky, was arrested in July 2023 in Finland as he was attempting to leave for France with his family. He has denied involvement in the crimes but is accused of participating in acts that violated the laws of war, resulting in the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and serious injuries to four others.
Petrovsky, who had been living in Finland under the alias Voislav Torden, is accused of serving as the deputy commander of a unit called Rusich, which fought on the side of the Russian-backed Luhansk separatist region against Ukraine. The charges against him include acts contrary to the laws of war in terms of the way of warfare and the treatment of wounded and killed enemy soldiers. Despite facing an arrest warrant in Ukraine, he cannot be extradited there due to concerns about inhumane prison conditions, so Finland has taken on the responsibility to try him.
The trial of Petrovsky is scheduled to begin on December 5 and last until the end of January 2025. The investigation into the suspect, who previously resided in Norway, was conducted by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation and involved cooperation with Ukrainian and European officials as well as the International Criminal Court. Petrovsky has been on the EU’s sanctions list against Russia for his alleged involvement in the far-right paramilitary group Rusich, which is connected with Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group and is suspected of terrorism crimes in Ukraine.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine, known as the Donbas, began in 2014 when separatist forces, backed by Moscow, launched an uprising after Russia annexed Crimea. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides, with tensions escalating further when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war against Ukraine in 2022. The ongoing conflict has led to tens of thousands of casualties and continues to impact the region. Finnish prosecutors have emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for war crimes and ensuring justice is served in such cases.
