A German who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will stand trial: what he is suspected of
17 March 20:14
Ukraine has extradited German citizen Ben R., who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on serious suspicion of committing sexual crimes. This decision was the result of an international investigation initiated by German law enforcement agencies, which found evidence of his involvement in rape and the distribution of prohibited materials, Komersant ukrainskyi reports, citing a BBC publication.
Details of extradition and suspicions
Ben R. was a soldier of the International Legion of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. He arrived in Ukraine in 2022 after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. During his two years of service, he took part in combat operations, including those led by the Security Service of Ukraine in Bakhmut.
However, in 2023, German law enforcement authorities charged him with sexual crimes that he allegedly committed in both Germany and Ukraine. In particular, he is suspected of raping several women, as well as producing and distributing prohibited materials. According to the German prosecutor’s office, the evidence includes video recordings that confirm the violent acts.
The process of detention and extradition
Germany sent an official request for extradition back in 2023, but Ben R. himself had been hiding in Ukraine for a long time. He was detained in the Sumy region in January 2025 after a long search.
After his arrest, he twice tried to appeal the extradition decision in Ukrainian courts, but both claims were rejected. In December 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine approved his transfer to German law enforcement agencies.
on March 17, 2025, Ben R. was taken to Poland, from where he was handed over to German authorities.
Investigations in Ukraine
Ukrainian law enforcement officials also launched their own investigation into Ben R.’s alleged crimes in the country. Investigators interviewed several witnesses, including women who claimed to have been abused. However, one of the victims later refused to testify, which complicated the case.
Ukraine cooperated with German law enforcement and handed over some of the collected materials.
This extradition was a signal that military service is not an excuse for avoiding responsibility for crimes. Law enforcement officials emphasize that any suspicions resulting from the offenses will be investigated, regardless of the person’s status.
Ben R. will now stand trial in Germany, where he faces severe punishment for his alleged crimes.
What is known about the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU)
This is an elite military unit that unites professional volunteer military from more than 50 countries. It carries out combat missions on land, in the air and on water, acting independently of other units and reporting directly to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
The Legion was formed after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its structure includes several foreign units organized at different levels, usually in the format of a battalion or squadron, functioning separately from the regular Ukrainian Foreign Legion.
The main tasks of the Legion include reconnaissance operations, counteroffensive actions and sabotage missions. The unit has participated in key battles, such as the battles for Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sievierodonetsk, and Lysychansk, as well as in counteroffensives in southern Ukraine and Kherson.
The Legion consists mainly of veterans and experienced fighters from around the world. As of March 2022, more than 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries have expressed a desire to join the Legion, including representatives from Poland, Scotland, Greece, Brazil, Colombia, the United States, Georgia, Norway, Australia and New Zealand.
