Finland’s life-in-prison verdict against Russian mercenary "strong message" to Russian criminals - MFA Ukraine

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine reacted to the news of the Helsinki District Court sentencing Voislav Torden, commander of Russia’s Rusich grouping embedded with the Russian occupation forces, to life imprisonment for war crimes in Ukraine, calling it a "strong message" sent to Russian criminals.

The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry made the statement via X, Ukrinform reports.

Sybiha said responsibility for international crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians is inevitable. The minister also thanked Finland for pioneering the move.

"This is a strong message to all Russian criminals: those who commit atrocities will face justice—sooner or later," Sybiha emphasized.

As per Ukrinform, on Friday, the Helsinki District Court sentenced Rusich Commander Voislav Torden (aka Yan Petrovsky), 38, to life in prison on charges of war crimes committed in Ukraine in 2014.

Finnish border guards detained Torden on July 20, 2023, at the Helsinki-Nanta Airport as he was set to board a flight to Nice, Italy.

Torden was targeted by EU sanctions under his other name Yan Petrovsky. He is banned from entering Finland. The EU said Petrovsky held the position of commander of the neo-Nazi reconnaissance and assault group "Rusich". Ukraine accuses Petrovsky of cruelty about captured Ukrainian soldiers. Petrovsky went on to change his first and last name, having crossed into Finland holding a new passport.

Photo: Andrii Sybiha / X