A far-right paramilitary group fighting on the side of Moscow in the Ukraine war claimed Monday that some of its members had begun volunteering to help the Federal Security Service (FSB) to “reinforce” Russia’s border with Finland.
Rusich said it “officially entered into cooperation with the FSB border guard service of northwestern Russia to share experience, conduct reconnaissance activities and strengthen the border with Finland.” The group said the joint work was being carried out voluntarily.
Russia’s FSB has not commented on the alleged volunteer cooperation.
The St. Petersburg-based news website Fontanka, citing an anonymous Rusich commander, reported that the paramilitary group would patrol the Russian-Finnish border in the Leningrad region’s Vyborgsky district.
Finnish media reported that photos posted by Rusich appeared to have been taken near the Saimaa Canal, which connects the Russian city of Vyborg to the Finnish city of Lappeenranta, located just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the border.
Rusich has reportedly fought alongside pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The group’s members frequently display far-right symbols and have been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
The group’s leader, Yan Petrovsky, is currently in detention in Finland after he was convicted earlier this year of violating EU sanctions by entering the country under the alias Voislav Torden. Ukrainian authorities have sought his arrest since 2016 for allegedly aiding pro-Russia rebels.
Finland closed its border with Russia in December, accusing Moscow of orchestrating a “hybrid attack” by sending asylum seekers from countries in Africa and the Middle East — a claim the Kremlin denies.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.