KYIV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n
Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28, four days after the invasion.<\/p>\n
Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a \u201ccriminal order\u201d by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim\u2019s head from an automatic weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven that the crime committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity and the international legal order … the court does not see the possibility of imposing a (shorter) sentence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Shishimarin, wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out. He stood with head bowed, listening to a translator.<\/p>\n
Shishmarin\u2019s lawyer, Viktor Ovsyannikov, said he was not surprised by the sentence because there had been \u201ccertain pressure from society\u201d and said he would launch a legal appeal.<\/p>\n
The trial, which began only last week, has huge symbolic significance for Ukraine and an international lawyer told Reuters it could be the first of many.<\/p> Kyiv has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during the invasion and said it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes. Russia has denied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes while it carries out what it calls a \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Ukraine.<\/p>\n The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the verdict. It has previously said that it has no information about the trial and that the absence of a diplomatic mission in Ukraine limits its ability to provide assistance.<\/p>\n BAR SET \u2018VERY HIGH\u2019<\/p>\n Ukrainian state prosecutors said Shishimarin and four other Russian servicemen stole a car to escape after their column was targeted by Ukrainian forces.<\/p>\n After driving into Chupakhivka, the soldiers saw Shelipov riding a bicycle and talking on his phone. Shishimarin was ordered to kill Shelipov to prevent him reporting on their location, the prosecutors said.<\/p>\n In court last week, Shishimarin acknowledged he was to blame and asked the victim\u2019s widow to forgive him.<\/p>\n The court reached its verdict five days after holding its first full hearing.<\/p>\n Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said the verdict was \u201cnot surprising\u201d and could be the first part of \u201ca large puzzle also involving Ukrainian soldiers being held in Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is the baseline trial … it sets the bar very high,\u201d he said. \u201cFor most other war crimes cases in Ukraine I suspect we\u2019ll see similar sentences because this is the baseline trial.\u201d<\/p>\n