German mercenary detained in Ukraine for allegedly raping a minor, reports say
A German mercenary has been taken into custody in Ukraine amid allegations of sex offenses occurring in both countries, as reported by various media outlets. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A German mercenary, previously celebrated as a "hero in Ukraine" by media in his homeland, has been arrested in Ukraine amid allegations of multiple sex offenses. According to Der Spiegel magazine, the former soldier, identified only as Ben R., has been accused of rape, sexual assault, and child pornography offenses in Germany, as well as the rape of a minor in Ukraine.
Citing the regional public prosecutor’s office in Bavaria, Der Spiegel reported that the suspect is now facing extradition to Germany. The magazine had previously covered Ben R.'s case, revealing that he reportedly fled to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia and escape criminal charges in his home country.
Ben R. joined the German Armed Forces in 2013 with a contract extending until 2025. In 2021, the military launched an investigation into him following allegations from at least four women who accused him of sexual harassment or rape, although two of the women later withdrew their complaints. The investigations were ultimately discontinued "for various reasons," as noted by Der Spiegel.
In early 2022, the case against him resurfaced after the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informed German law enforcement about child pornography allegedly linked to Ben R. being shared on Discord. Subsequently, a raid on his home in Bavaria led to the seizure of electronic devices, including three hard drives and two laptops.
After the raid, Ben R. quickly relocated to Ukraine, where German authorities initially found no reason to issue an arrest warrant. In Ukraine, he reportedly joined a medical assistance unit for frontline fighters. In June 2022, he was featured in a Bild article that characterized him as a “German hero” aiding Ukrainian soldiers. During interviews, he stated that he joined the military to “help people” and expressed a desire to become part of a Ukrainian combat unit.
Investigators in Germany later determined that the devices seized from Ben R. contained extensive material, including “a total of 5,700 photos and around 420 videos showing sexualized violence against children,” alongside ammunition from German military stocks.
In September 2022, Bavarian prosecutors issued an EU-wide arrest warrant for him. However, he continued to communicate with Bild nearly a year later. By summer 2023, he claimed to be officially part of the Ukrainian army, receiving a salary between €2,000 and €2,500 for his services.
German authorities requested his extradition from Ukraine in 2023 but did not receive a response. In November of that year, further pornographic content linked to Ben R. was discovered online, allegedly filmed and uploaded during his time in Ukraine. Reports indicated that women in the videos appeared to be pleading for him to stop, with signs of injury.
Investigators now suspect the man of at least six additional instances of rape, leading to the issuance of a second EU arrest warrant in late 2023. The evidence against him has also been shared with Ukrainian authorities, with investigations underway regarding the suspicion of raping a minor in Ukraine.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
Citing the regional public prosecutor’s office in Bavaria, Der Spiegel reported that the suspect is now facing extradition to Germany. The magazine had previously covered Ben R.'s case, revealing that he reportedly fled to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia and escape criminal charges in his home country.
Ben R. joined the German Armed Forces in 2013 with a contract extending until 2025. In 2021, the military launched an investigation into him following allegations from at least four women who accused him of sexual harassment or rape, although two of the women later withdrew their complaints. The investigations were ultimately discontinued "for various reasons," as noted by Der Spiegel.
In early 2022, the case against him resurfaced after the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informed German law enforcement about child pornography allegedly linked to Ben R. being shared on Discord. Subsequently, a raid on his home in Bavaria led to the seizure of electronic devices, including three hard drives and two laptops.
After the raid, Ben R. quickly relocated to Ukraine, where German authorities initially found no reason to issue an arrest warrant. In Ukraine, he reportedly joined a medical assistance unit for frontline fighters. In June 2022, he was featured in a Bild article that characterized him as a “German hero” aiding Ukrainian soldiers. During interviews, he stated that he joined the military to “help people” and expressed a desire to become part of a Ukrainian combat unit.
Investigators in Germany later determined that the devices seized from Ben R. contained extensive material, including “a total of 5,700 photos and around 420 videos showing sexualized violence against children,” alongside ammunition from German military stocks.
In September 2022, Bavarian prosecutors issued an EU-wide arrest warrant for him. However, he continued to communicate with Bild nearly a year later. By summer 2023, he claimed to be officially part of the Ukrainian army, receiving a salary between €2,000 and €2,500 for his services.
German authorities requested his extradition from Ukraine in 2023 but did not receive a response. In November of that year, further pornographic content linked to Ben R. was discovered online, allegedly filmed and uploaded during his time in Ukraine. Reports indicated that women in the videos appeared to be pleading for him to stop, with signs of injury.
Investigators now suspect the man of at least six additional instances of rape, leading to the issuance of a second EU arrest warrant in late 2023. The evidence against him has also been shared with Ukrainian authorities, with investigations underway regarding the suspicion of raping a minor in Ukraine.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
