Finland’s border guards apprehended an individual, whose identity details were not disclosed, on June 17 after he entered Finland illegally through a forest near the town of Kitee in eastern Finland. The person is suspected of being a former member of the Wagner Group, a private military company linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defense. The incident has raised questions about the movement of individuals with ties to Russian military entities across international borders.
The Finnish Immigration Service has stated that the individual was detained under Article 25 of the Finnish Immigration Act, which allows for the deportation of foreigners who have illegally entered the country. No formal charges have been filed against the person, and the case is currently under investigation. Authorities have not provided further details about the individual’s alleged activities or their reasons for entering Finland illegally.