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Wagner Defector Seeks Asylum in Finland—Border Guards Say He Snuck In Through the Woods
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
A former Russian Wagner Group mercenary who crossed into Finland and requested asylum is now being held in a temporary detention facility while Finnish authorities assess his background and possible criminal liability.
According to Finnish broadcaster Yle on July 12, the man—identified only as Yevgeny—illegally crossed the border on June 17 near the town of Kitee in North Karelia.
The area, located in a forested region near Välivaara, lacks a border fence but is monitored by motion sensors. Border guards apprehended the man shortly after he entered Finnish territory.
The Finnish Border Guard had previously reported the unauthorized border crossing but did not initially disclose the individual’s identity. Multiple sources confirmed to Yle that the man is a Russian citizen and a former fighter affiliated with the Wagner private military company.
Yevgeny reportedly applied for international protection in Finland and is currently in custody pending further investigation.
Social media posts previously linked to the individual include photos and videos showing him in military gear bearing Wagner insignia.
In interviews with Russian state-aligned media, he claimed to have voluntarily joined Russian forces in 2022, completed training with Wagner, and participated in operations in Ukraine, including the battle for Bakhmut.
In one such interview, Yevgeny described his unit destroying a vehicle carrying Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Selidove. He also alleged involvement in combat across multiple Ukrainian regions.
Yevgeny ceased public communication in late 2024. However, in February 2025, he resurfaced online with a video sharply criticizing the Russian military leadership. On June 30, he published a second video expressing similar views. According to Yle, by the time of the second video, he had already arrived in Finland.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (KRP) confirmed to Yle that it is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the man’s background and his potential affiliation with Wagner. Authorities are currently determining whether there are grounds to initiate a criminal investigation.
Earlier, a UK court found three men guilty of carrying out an arson attack on London-based businesses supporting Ukraine—an operation linked to Russia’s Wagner Group. Prosecutors said the attack, which targeted shipments including Starlink equipment, was ordered by Wagner and marked the first conviction under the UK’s new National Security Act.
