On March 14, 2025, a Finnish court sentenced Voislav Torden to life imprisonment for leading a deadly ambush against Ukrainian soldiers in 2014, amidst Russia's initial invasion.
**Finnish Court Convicts Russian Commander of War Crimes in Ukraine**
**Finnish Court Convicts Russian Commander of War Crimes in Ukraine**
A groundbreaking verdict marks the first war crimes case of its kind in Finland concerning the Ukraine conflict.
In a historic ruling, the Helsinki District Court has sentenced Voislav Torden, known as Yan Petrovskiy, to life imprisonment for war crimes committed during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conviction, a first for Finland regarding international war crimes linked to the Ukraine war, stems from Torden's leadership of an ambush that resulted in the murder and mutilation of Ukrainian troops in 2014.
The court's decision on March 14, 2025, was unanimous, with Torden found guilty of several counts related to the heinous acts conducted during the Russian-backed incursion into Ukrainian territory. While Torden had maintained his innocence, the three-judge panel established his involvement in murder, mutilation, and the distribution of graphic images of the violence. However, he was acquitted on a charge concerning the planning of the ambush due to a lack of evidence.
Torden commanded the Rusich militia, a neo-Nazi group known for aligning with Russian military forces and linked to the notorious Wagner Group, as per the U.S. government's characterization. His actions have led to sanctions imposed by the U.S., the European Union, and several allied nations. The Rusich fighters have been documented participating in conflicts in various regions of Ukraine, demonstrating their ongoing presence and impact in the ongoing war that has drawn widespread global attention and condemnation.
The court's decision on March 14, 2025, was unanimous, with Torden found guilty of several counts related to the heinous acts conducted during the Russian-backed incursion into Ukrainian territory. While Torden had maintained his innocence, the three-judge panel established his involvement in murder, mutilation, and the distribution of graphic images of the violence. However, he was acquitted on a charge concerning the planning of the ambush due to a lack of evidence.
Torden commanded the Rusich militia, a neo-Nazi group known for aligning with Russian military forces and linked to the notorious Wagner Group, as per the U.S. government's characterization. His actions have led to sanctions imposed by the U.S., the European Union, and several allied nations. The Rusich fighters have been documented participating in conflicts in various regions of Ukraine, demonstrating their ongoing presence and impact in the ongoing war that has drawn widespread global attention and condemnation.
