Russian Far-Right Rusich Group Conducts Operations on the Border With Finland

Russian far-right and neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich claims it has entered into an official agreement with Russian FSB Border Service intended to “conduct on intelligence activities and border strengthening along the Finnish border.”

According to Ilta-Sanomat, there have been notable movements by both the FSB and the Rusich group around the Saimaa Canal area. The Rusich group, which has been linked to the Wagner Group of paramilitary forces in Russia’s war in Ukraine, announced on Telegram that their role involves reconnaissance and border fortification efforts with the FSB. They have stated that their presence is to "reinforce the Finnish border."

The Rusich group has posted images of their activities near the Rättijärvi lock in the Saimaa Canal, located a few kilometers from the Finnish border.

The Saimaa Canal, which connects Lappeenranta in Finland with the Baltic Sea at Vyborg (Viipuri in Finnish), is currently closed due to sanctions imposed on Russian Railways.

The Rusich group, known for its far-right ideology, has been accused of war crimes in Ukraine. Yan Petrovsky, a leader of Rusich, is currently detained in Finland following a conviction for immigration offenses. Finnish prosecutors are considering whether to bring additional war crime charges against him.

Russian media have stated that this move could be in response to Finland’s efforts to construct a fence along the border.