In the first war crimes trial stemming from Russia’s invasion, a Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in jail on Monday for murdering an unarmed civilian.
Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to murdering a 62-year-old Ukrainian on Feb. 28, four days after the invasion, in the northeastern town of Chupakhivka.
Shishimarin, according to Judge Serhiy Agafonov, fired six rounds at the victim’s head from an automatic weapon while carrying out a “criminal command” from a higher-ranking soldier. “Given that the crime was committed against peace, security, humanity, and the international legal order… the court does not see the prospect of imposing a (shorter) term,” he added.
Shishimarin, who was dressed in a blue and grey hooded sweater, sat calmly in a reinforced glass cage in the courtroom. He bent his head and listened to a translation. Viktor Ovsyannikov, his lawyer, said he was not shocked by the sentence since there had been “some societal pressure,” adding that he will file a legal appeal.
The trial, which began last week, is extremely symbolic for Ukraine. Ukraine has accused Russia of atrocities and violence against people during the invasion and claims to have discovered over 10,000 potential war crimes. Russia denies intentionally attacking people. The Kremlin did not respond quickly to the ruling. It has previously stated that it has no knowledge of the trial and that the lack of a diplomatic response