MOSCOW, July 30 Huhtala Topi, commander of the Team Wiking unit formed from Finnish mercenaries, who fought in Donbass, has been sentenced in absentia to 14 years in the Russian Federation, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee reported.
It is noted that Finnish citizen Huhtala Topi was found guilty under the article on the participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict.
«By the verdict of the court, Huhtala was sentenced in absentia to 14 years of imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony. He is on the international wanted list,» the report says.
It was established that in March 2022 To receive the reward, Khukhtala arrived in Ukraine to the permanent deployment point of the paramilitary formation «International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine». It is noted that there he joined this unit, underwent military training, after which he was provided with firearms, ammunition, uniforms and special equipment.
According to the Investigative Committee, since May 2022, Khukhtala has been the commander of the paramilitary unit Team Wiking formed by Finnish mercenaries, which is under the operational subordination of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It is reported that from March 2022 to May 2024, Khukhtala took part in hostilities against servicemen of the DPR, LPR and the Russian Armed Forces. It is emphasized that by his criminal actions, the mercenary contributed to the maintenance of the armed conflict and the creation of instability in these regions.