A Russian tank commander accused of killing a Ukrainian civilian asked the victim's widow for forgiveness during a hearing on Thursday in the first war crimes trial to emerge from the Ukraine conflict.
The soldier, Vadim Shishimarin, was confronted by the widow at the hearing. She asked if he had forgiven himself.
Shishimarin asked for forgiveness, according to the outlet.
He said that he would not be able to forgive him.
Shelipova told the court that she believed Shishimarin should be released back to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange with Ukraine or sentenced to life in prison. Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers were captured by Russia and registered as prisoners of war.
The Ukrainian widow told Sarah Rainsford that she couldn't forgive Shishimarin for killing her husband. Shishimarin admitted to the killing on Wednesday.
Why did you come here? Shelipova asked Shishimarin if she could protect us. Did you protect my husband?
The soldier did not reply.
Shelipova was drawing water from a well in the village of Chupakhivka when she heard a gunshot on February 28.
She said she remembered Shishimarin and saw a young man with a rifle in a car.
She found her husband dead with a shot to the head. She told the court that she started screaming loudly.
At the hearing, Shishimarin said that he and several other soldiers hijacked a Volkswagen car to catch up with the rest of the Russian army.
The tank commander said that a soldier told Shishimarin to shoot the man after he said he would give them up.
I was told I would be putting us in danger if I did not. He was shot at short range. Shishimarin said that it killed him.
Shishimarin said he was not obliged to follow an order that amounted to a war crime.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
