One of the former commanders of the Russian mercenary group "Wagner", who fled to Norway, in an interview with Reuters said he wanted to apologize for taking part in the fighting in Ukraine, adding that he was speaking out to help bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.

Andrei Medvedev, who crossed the Russian-Norwegian border on January 13, says he witnessed the killing and abuse of Russian prisoners who fought against Ukrainians in Wagner's ranks.

He claims he crossed the border by climbing over the barbed wire and thus avoiding border patrols. He claims he heard gunfire from border guards as he ran through the forest and across the frozen river on the Russian-Norwegian border.

The 26-year-old Medvedev is now seeking asylum in Norway.

"Many consider me a bastard, a criminal and a murderer. First, I want to apologize to Ukrainians. Although I don't know how it will be received, I want to say I'm sorry," he told Reuters.