Russian Wagner soldier defected across the forest border into Finland and is now seeking asylum (in Finnish)

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1. According to YLE’s information, the man has fought in Russia’s new assault troops in Ukraine. Now he is criticizing Russian commanders who leave their soldiers to “rot in the fields.”

   According to Yle’s information, Finnish authorities are holding a soldier who belonged to the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner.

   Based on information obtained by Yle from several sources, the Russian soldier is a person who was reportedly apprehended by the North Karelia Border Guard on June 17.

   The man’s first name is Yevgeny.

   Yle has found several pieces of photographic evidence showing the man in eastern Ukraine, where he talks about his participation in the war.

   The man also presents himself specifically as a Wagner soldier on his own public social media account. There, he recently posted a video in which he harshly criticizes Russia for its treatment of its soldiers and for lying to their families.

   The man has now defected to Finland and, according to Yle’s information, is seeking asylum.

   Yle is publishing information about the man because he has served in areas of Ukraine where serious war crimes have been committed.

   Yle is not publishing the man’s full name because the authorities in Finland have only just begun investigating his activities. He is not currently under investigation for war crimes.

   The man has declined YLE’s request for an interview.

   According to Yle’s information, sensors at the Finnish border had alerted border guards to the man’s presence, after which a border patrol apprehended him.

   Authorities confirm that the border crosser has applied for international protection in Finland. He is currently in custody.

   Images and videos obtained by Yle show how the same man was still fighting on Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine last autumn.

   Yle has located the video below, which is most likely from Selidovo. Russian forces captured the city in October 2024.

   The Border Guard suspects the border crosser of a state border offense.

   The National Bureau of Investigation also tells YLE that it is conducting a preliminary investigation into a person who came to Finland from Russia and may have served in the Wagner Group.

   In the preliminary investigation, the police are assessing whether there are grounds to launch a criminal investigation.

   Neither authority has directly told YLE that the cases are related to Yevgeny.

2. that s from like 2 years ago ?

3. Now the ruzzians will do everything to get him.

4. so sus. it must suck to defect.

5. Dude needs to avoid strangers, tea, umbrellas for the rest of his life, but better than being on a drone video.

6. Collect all the information they can then send him back. Russians don’t belong on European soil.

7. If I had a nickel….

8. You could say he was a russian and crossed the finish line 

9. Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.

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