Russian National Charged With War Crimes in Finland

Finnish authorities have formally charged Russian national Yan Petrovsky, also known as Voislav Torden, with five counts of war crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine in 2014 while he served as a commander in the Rusich paramilitary unit. These charges, marking the first time Finland has prosecuted war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict, stem from accusations that Torden's actions led to the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and the injury of four others. The trial is set to begin on December 5, 2024, and will include video evidence and survivor testimonies. Torden, who denies the charges, was arrested at Helsinki Airport in July 2023 and has been under EU and U.S. sanctions since 2022. Finland's Supreme Court previously denied a Ukrainian extradition request, citing concerns over potential mistreatment in Ukrainian prisons. The case is part of a broader investigation involving cooperation with Ukrainian and international authorities.