3 arrested in Moldova for links with the Wagner Group

An operation by the Moldavan and Ukrainian national authorities, supported by Europol’s Core International Crimes team, targeted individuals suspected of having taken part in the war of aggression against Ukraine as mercenaries for the Wagner Group. The investigation, led by the Ukrainian Police, involved the Moldavan Police and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine and the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organised Crime and Special Cases of Moldova.

The investigation has so far identified 85 individuals linked to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The National Police of Ukraine has opened a special criminal case, which contains information about the recruitment, training, financing, and the use of the alleged mercenaries in combat actions against Ukraine. This information has been shared with authorities in Moldova, where new preliminary investigations have been initiated.

The action days on 12 and 13 February 2025 led to:

• Over 50 locations searched in Moldova;
• 3 arrests in Moldova;
• Seizures, including documents, electronic equipment, video material and picture evidence.

The seizures made during the raids include a large number of documents, pictures and video material, which attest to the recruitment and conditions of service within the Wagner Group private military company and illustrate the involvement of the suspects in military actions in the territory of Ukraine. The individuals, all Moldavan nationals, allegedly participated in the occupation of the city of Bakhmut, the battle for Donetsk Airport, the creation of the Debaltsevo cauldron within the Wagner paramilitary group, the Somali battalion and other armed formations of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic and Russia. Investigative information shows that the investigated individuals have been awarded medals and decorations by the military leadership of the Russian forces in the occupied territories.

Europol supported the investigation by facilitating information exchange, coordinating operational activities and providing specialised analytical support focussed on the potential involvement of these individuals into war crimes committed in Ukraine. On the action days, Europol established a virtual command point to streamline communication between involved authorities and enhance field operations by cross-checking real-time operational data against its databases.

See more about the operation in this video by the the National Police of Ukraine: