Russian soldier jailed for life in first war crimes trial of Ukraine conflict

KYIV, May 23 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first warfare crimes trial arising from Russia's invasion.

Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded responsible to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28, 4 days after the invasion. read extra

Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, finishing up a "felony order" by a soldier of higher rank, had fired a number of pictures on the victim's head from an automatic weapon. read extra

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"Given that the crime dedicated is a criminal offense against peace, security, humanity and the international authorized order ... the court doesn't see the potential for imposing a (shorter) sentence," he stated.

Shishimarin, wearing a blue and gray hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass field within the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out. He stood with head bowed, listening to a translator.

Shishmarin's lawyer, Viktor Ovsyannikov, said he was not stunned by the sentence because there had been "certain pressure from society" and said he would launch a legal attraction.

The trial, which started solely final week, has big symbolic significance for Ukraine and a world lawyer advised Reuters it might be the first of many. read extra

Kyiv has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians in the course of the invasion and stated it has recognized more than 10,000 doable war crimes. Russia has denied concentrating on civilians or involvement in battle crimes while it carries out what it calls a "special army operation" in Ukraine.

Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin, 21, suspected of violations of the legal guidelines and norms of warfare, stands inside a cage throughout a courtroom listening to, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Could 23, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

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The Kremlin didn't instantly comment on the verdict. It has beforehand said that it has no details about the trial and that the absence of a diplomatic mission in Ukraine limits its capacity to offer assistance.

Ukrainian state prosecutors said Shishimarin and four different Russian servicemen stole a automotive to flee after their column was targeted by Ukrainian forces.

After driving into Chupakhivka, the troopers noticed Shelipov riding a bicycle and talking on his phone. Shishimarin was ordered to kill Shelipov to stop him reporting on their location, the prosecutors mentioned.

In court docket final week, Shishimarin acknowledged he was guilty and asked the sufferer's widow to forgive him.

The courtroom reached its verdict five days after holding its first full listening to.

Mark Ellis, government director of the International Bar Association, stated the decision was "not surprising" and may very well be the primary a part of "a large puzzle also involving Ukrainian troopers being held in Russia."

"If that is the baseline trial ... it sets the bar very high," he stated. "For many other battle crimes circumstances in Ukraine I believe we'll see related sentences because that is the baseline trial."

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Further reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague, Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Frank Jack Daniel

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