A court in Kyiv has heard a young Russian soldier pleading guilty in the killing of an unarmed civilian. This is the first war crime’s trial in Ukraine since the European nation was invaded again by Russian troops, British public broadcaster BBC reports.
On Wednesday, May 18, 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin admitted shooting a 62-year-old man a few days into the invasion in Sumy Region, Ukraine. Shishimarin fully admitted his guilt in a court hearing.
Read also: Day 82 of war in Ukraine: Part of Azovstal defenders evacuated, missiles hit Lviv Region, evidence of new mass grave
Ukrainian prosecutors claimed that the soldier was commanding a unit in a tank division, when his convoy came under attack in northern Ukraine. Shishimarin and four other soldiers then allegedly stole a car and drove near Chupakhivka, they encountered the 62-year-old man on a bicycle, and, prosecutors said, Shishimarin was ordered to kill the civilian and used a Kalashnikov assault rifle to do it.
The Russian government has repeatedly denied that its troops in Ukraine have been ordered to kill civilians, BBC reports.
Russian soldier pleads guilty in war crime in Ukraine
