Russian Soldier Sentenced To Life In War Crimes Trial

The BBC reports:

A court in Ukraine has jailed a Russian tank commander for life for killing a civilian at the first war crimes trial since the invasion. Captured soldier Sgt Vadim Shishimarin was convicted of killing Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka on 28 February.

He admitted shooting Mr Shelipov but said he had been acting on orders and asked forgiveness of his widow. When they spotted Mr Shelipov he was speaking on his phone, Shishimarin told the court. He says he was told to shoot him with an assault rifle.

Mrs Shelipova told the BBC: “I feel very sorry for him but for a crime like that – I can’t forgive him.”

Read the full article.

Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison in Ukraine’s first war crimes trial since invasion https://t.co/ovsa8EyDfo via @nbcnews

— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) May 23, 2022

The widow of the unarmed Ukrainian civilian shot dead by a young Russian soldier is asked in this first #Kyiv war crimes trial what would be a fair punishment for his loss?
She replies: A life sentence. But if he was to be exchanged for one of our fighters, I wouldn’t mind that. pic.twitter.com/NTaaXXR3aa

— rachel younger (@rachyoungeritv) May 19, 2022