Ukraine jails Russian soldier for life at war crimes trial

A Kyiv court found a 21-year-old Russian soldier guilty of war crimes and sentenced him to life in prison on Monday, the first verdict against Moscow’s forces since their invasion.

“The court has found that (Vadim) Shishimarin is guilty and sentences him to life imprisonment,” judge Sergiy Agafonov said.

In court, the Russian sergeant admitted to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov during the early days of the Kremlin’s offensive in northeast Ukraine.

He was also found guilty of premeditated murder. “The murder was committed with direct intent,” judge Agafonov said.

“Shishimarin violated the laws and customs of war.”

The soldier told the court last week that he shot Shelipov under pressure from another soldier as they tried to retreat back to Russia in a stolen car on February 28th, the fourth day of Moscow’s invasion.

Shishimarin apologized and asked Shelipov’s widow for forgiveness.

The landmark ruling is expected to be followed by others, with Ukraine opening thousands of war crimes cases since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent in his troops.

The youthful serviceman looked on from the glass defence box as the verdict was read out in Ukrainian. An interpreter translated for him into Russian.

Shishimarin’s lawyer Viktor Ovsyannikov said he will appeal the verdict.

“This is the most severe sentence and any level-headed person would challenge it,” Ovsyannikov, said, adding: “I will ask for the cancellation of the court’s verdict”.

He said that “you can feel societal pressure” on the court’s decision.

But prosecutor Andriy Syniuk said the ruling was fair.

“I consider the verdict to be lawful and justified,” he told reporters, saying he was “completely satisfied” with the outcome.

Rights organizations have expressed hope that Ukraine’s trials against Russian soldiers will be impartial and transparent.

Before the sentencing on Monday, the Kremlin stated that, while it was “concerned” about Shishimarin’s fate, it was unable to provide on-the-ground assistance because Russia has no diplomatic presence in Ukraine.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t try through other channels. The fate of every Russian citizen is of paramount importance to us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.