Authorities in Moldova and Ukraine have conducted a coordinated, cross-border crackdown on mercenaries affiliated with the Russian private military companies Wagner Group and Redut, marking a significant effort to secure accountability for alleged war crimes. The investigation, supported by Europol’s Core International Crimes team, led to the identification of a total of 654 suspects involved in combat operations against Ukraine. These individuals include citizens of Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries.
The second phase of the joint investigation, codenamed “Avengers-2,” involved over 70 simultaneous searches in both countries. The authorities successfully collected critical evidence, including documents, electronic equipment, photos, and video material that attest to recruitment, service conditions within Wagner, and direct participation in war crimes such as the execution of civilians and prisoners of war, and acts of sexual violence.The investigation leverages secure information exchange channels facilitated by Europol, which set up a virtual command post for real-time operational coordination. Ukrainian authorities shared data on over 280 foreign nationals with concerned countries to support legal action. So far, 11 Ukrainian citizens have been indicted for high treason for joining the paramilitary formations. This unprecedented cooperation underscores the commitment of regional states to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure that foreign fighters involved in the conflict are prosecuted.
