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Finnish Police Investigate Alleged War Crime Over Online Sale of Russian Soldier's Body Armor
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Finnish police have launched an investigation into the sale of a body armor that allegedly belonged to a captured Russian soldier, which appeared on a local online marketplace earlier this summer. Authorities have classified the case as a “minor war crime.”
This was reported by Yle on September 3.
According to media reports, the listing was posted at the beginning of the summer, but the individual who put the item up for sale has not yet been identified.
The Helsinki police confirmed that a preliminary investigation is underway. If found guilty, the seller could face a fine or up to two years in prison.
Law enforcement officials noted that the illegal sale of military equipment falls under the category of “minor war crime.” The last time such a case was investigated in Finland was back in 2006.
Meanwhile, the Finnish government is moving to strengthen the country’s defense posture. On August 28, the Ministry of Defense submitted a proposal to Parliament to raise the upper age limit for reservists from 60 to 65 years. If adopted, the reform will take effect on January 1, 2026, and would make Finland’s wartime reserve the largest in NATO—comprising 870,000 trained personnel, including about 280,000 designated for wartime duties.
The extension would cover officers, non-commissioned officers, and rank-and-file members alike, ensuring that experienced reservists remain available for longer periods and bolstering Finland’s ability to respond to potential security challenges.
Earlier, it was reported that Finland will resume the use of anti-personnel landmines after officially withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans these weapons.
