HELSINKI — On Thursday, Finland’s Prosecutor’s Office announced the filing of charges related to suspected war crimes from 2014, involving an individual who fought against Ukrainian forces in a region of Ukraine supported by Russian separatists.
The accused individual has not been named in the official announcement; however, Finnish media reports suggest the suspect is a Russian national named Yan Petrovsky, who had been living under the alias Voislav Torden in Finland. Denying any involvement in the alleged crimes, Petrovsky awaits further legal proceedings.
According to Finnish authorities, the charges stem from Petrovsky’s participation in a military unit known as Rusich, which fought alongside the Luhansk separatists against Ukraine.
Reports indicate that Petrovsky was detained in July 2023 at Helsinki Airport while preparing to travel with his family to Nice, France. He reportedly managed to enter Finland despite being banned from the EU, aided by a new identity and his wife’s status as a student in the country.
Prosecutors assert that Petrovsky, serving as the deputy commander of the Rusich unit, is accused of being involved in operations that led to the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and serious injuries to four others.
Furthermore, the suspect faces allegations concerning violations of warfare laws, particularly regarding the treatment of deceased and injured enemy combatants.
In a prior ruling, Finland’s Supreme Court determined that extradition to Ukraine, where Petrovsky is wanted, is not feasible due to concerns about potential inhumane treatment in Ukrainian prisons. Finnish authorities indicated that Finland has a legal responsibility to prosecute him.
More details are expected to be released once the case is presented in Helsinki District Court, although no trial date has been set yet.
The investigation into Petrovsky, who previously lived in Norway, was spearheaded by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI has stated that it has coordinated with Ukrainian and European counterparts, in addition to the International Criminal Court, in gathering evidence.
Petrovsky is also listed on the European Union’s sanctions roster against Russia, accused of being a founding figure in the paramilitary organization Rusich, which has faced allegations of terrorist activities in Ukraine and is associated with Russia’s mercenary group Wagner.
The backdrop for this case is significant; Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 was a pivotal moment that triggered the insurgency by separatist forces in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, a conflict that has led to substantial loss of life.
The ongoing war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022 has escalated further, resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities on both sides and compounding the hostilities in the region.