Ukraine extradites German mercenary wanted for rape at home
The Ukrainian authorities have extradited a German mercenary who is wanted in his home country on suspicion of rape and possession and distribution of child pornography, the media outlet Suspilne has reported, citing the office of Ukraine's Public Prosecutor General.
Identified only as Ben R., the individual had until recently served in the Ukrainian International Legion – a unit of foreign fighters that Russia considers mercenaries.
Ukraine reportedly decided to deport Ben R. on December 31, 2024, but the process was slowed down by the need to study 'all the circumstances.'
According to the report, the Ukrainian authorities also launched a pre-trial investigation into Ben R. over allegations of rape made by two local women.
Strana UA claimed that the 29-year-old was detained in January, with German media alleging earlier this year that he was being investigated in Ukraine on suspicion of raping a minor.
In 2021, the German military launched a probe against the man, who was serving in the Bundeswehr at the time, after at least four women accused him of sexual harassment or rape, according to the Office of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Commissioner. However, the investigations were eventually dropped 'for various reasons,' the publication added.
Ben R. reportedly came under the authorities' scrutiny again in early 2022, following a tip-off from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography which was being distributed on the online platform Discord.
In March 2022, the German police raided the suspect's home in Bavaria, confiscating his electronic devices, whereupon he swiftly moved to Ukraine, several media outlets reported. He allegedly went on to join a medical unit, with Bild describing him as a 'German hero' several months later.
Meanwhile, German investigators discovered that the impounded devices contained a 'total of 5,700 photos and around 420 videos showing sexualized violence against children,' according to Der Spiegel.
In September 2022, Bavarian prosecutors filed an EU-wide arrest warrant against the man, followed by an extradition request to Ukraine and a second EU arrest warrant in 2023.
In November of that year, new pornographic materials linked to him, which had presumably been filmed and uploaded during his stay in Ukraine, were discovered on the internet, Der Spiegel reported.
According to the Ukrainian media, the military unit where the man had served only terminated his contract in November 2024.
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