Wagner mercenaries and other militants who fought against Ukraine detained in Moldova
Ukrainian and Moldovan police have detained three Wagner Group mercenaries and other fighters from illegal armed groups involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s National Police, the three detainees are Moldovan nationals who participated in the battle for Donetsk airport, the capture of Bakhmut and the encirclement of Debaltseve between 2014 and 2023. They fought as part of the Wagner group, the Somali battalion and other armed formations of the so-called DPR [the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic – ed.] and Russia. Some of them received medals and awards from the Russian forces’ military command.
More than 200 police officers were involved in the operation to detain the mercenaries.
Law enforcement officers from both countries carried out over 50 searches at the suspects' residences and registration addresses as part of the first phase of the Avengers international police operation.
As a result, documents, computer equipment and mobile phones were seized, containing messages, photos and videos with information about recruitment, service conditions in the Wagner group and evidence of the suspects' participation in combat operations in Ukraine.
Moldovan police have charged the three suspects under Article 141.1 of Moldova’s Criminal Code for serving as mercenaries in an armed conflict, engaging in war-related or other violent actions aimed at overthrowing or undermining constitutional order or violating the territorial integrity of the state.
The court is currently deciding on their pre-trial detention, and they face up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities note that these are just the first of 85 Moldovan nationals identified by Ukrainian police as having fought for Russia. Ukraine’s National Police has launched a special criminal investigation to document all cases of recruitment, training, financing and deployment of these individuals in combat against Ukraine. With the support of the International Police Cooperation Department of the National Police of Ukraine, their data has already been handed over to the relevant Moldovan law enforcement agencies, where a new series of pre-trial investigations has begun.
"Over 200 police officers from both countries worked to document the crimes of the invaders. These are just the first among 85 Moldovan citizens identified by Ukrainian police as having fought on Russia’s side. We have gathered information on their service records, family ties, contacts and current locations.
A report with our findings has already been sent to European law enforcement agencies, stressing the urgent need to establish an international database of war mercenaries and coordinate efforts to combat this growing threat. We are bringing this issue to the global stage and working with every civilised nation to address it.
We have identified 37 private military companies created by Russia to wage war in Ukraine and beyond since 2014. This poses serious risks for Europe, including societal destabilisation, a rise in organised crime, and the return of battle-hardened mercenaries to EU countries," Ivan Vyhivskyi, Chief of Ukraine's National Police, said.