Finland Sentences Yan Petrovsky to Life for Ukraine War Crimes

The Helsinki District Court has sentenced Voislav Torden (also known as Yan Petrovsky) to life imprisonment for committing war crimes in Ukraine in 2014. Torden, a co-leader of the neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, was found guilty on four counts, including leading an ambush that resulted in the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and executing wounded prisoners. Despite denying the charges, the court ruled that video evidence of the crimes was substantial. One charge was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, but the ruling marks a historic moment as it is the first war crimes conviction in Finland related to the Ukraine conflict. The court also declined Ukraine's request for Torden's extradition, citing concerns over prison conditions. His defense team plans to appeal the verdict.