Finnish Police Open Investigation Into Alleged War Crime Committed in Ukraine

Finnish police have launched a criminal investigation into an alleged war crime committed in Ukraine, according to a report from Ukrainska Pravda on October 4. Finland joins a growing list of European countries applying universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Universal Jurisdiction in Practice

Finland, like Sweden, Germany, and other EU member states, has national laws that allow prosecution of serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred or the nationality of the perpetrators. This legal mechanism has been used extensively to build accountability for crimes committed during the war in Ukraine.

International investigations into war crimes in Ukraine have accelerated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants, and numerous national jurisdictions are pursuing cases involving Ukrainian victims and Russian military personnel.