An Estonian citizen was arrested in Russia for intending to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces
A 30-year-old Estonian citizen, Artur Kirmjye, has been arrested in Russia; the FSB accuses him of intending to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The man had been visiting Russia regularly after Estonia denied his wife, a Russian citizen, international protection.
In June, the FSB in Vladimir Oblast released a video showing the detained man, whose face was blurred. He identified himself as an Estonian citizen and stated that, based on information he had read online, he had developed a negative attitude toward Russia’s war against Ukraine and had allegedly approached Ukrainian officials with a request to help him join the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the video, the man periodically bows his head, as if reading from a prepared text.
As established by “Vazhnye Istorii” and the Estonian publication Delfi, the man in the video is Artur Kirmjye, a former fighter in the Scout Battalion, an elite unit of the Estonian Defense Forces. According to journalists, he also worked as a paramedic.
Kirmiye was detained during another trip to Russia. He regularly traveled from Tallinn to Vladimir, where his wife, Lina—whose name has been changed for security reasons—lived.
Estonia had previously denied Lina international protection and ordered her to leave the country. Upon her return to Russia, she was barred from entering the EU for three years. Artur and Lina tried to appeal this decision and secure the right to live together in Estonia.
According to “Vazhnye Istorii,” the couple married in Vladimir in June 2024. In April 2026, Arthur returned to Russia, after which security forces stormed the couple’s apartment and detained him. Russian media reported that the case is being investigated under charges of mercenary activity and preparation for a crime. Under these charges, he could face up to 7.5 years in prison.
As a reminder, Estonia is demanding an explanation from France regarding the lifting of EU sanctions against Usmanov and Friedman.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga criticized the EU’s decision to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman from the sanctions list.
Prior to this, the EU had agreed to extend sanctions against Russia and to remove Usmanov and Friedman from the list.
