The first war-crimes trial since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine ended on Monday with a 21-year-old Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison.
Vadim Shishimarin is a Russian soldier.
Iryna Venediktova said on Monday that a panel of judges found Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin guilty of premeditated murder and violating the laws of war.
The sentencing came after Shishimarin pleaded guilty and apologized to the wife of Oleksandr Shelipov, the man Ukrainian officials say he shot from an open window of a car.
The judge said the court couldn't recognize the sincerity of repentance from Shishimarin, who argued he did not shoot Shelipov with intent to kill and was ordered to do so by a fellow soldier.
Russia was concerned about the fate of its citizen, but did not have many opportunities to protect his interests, according to the New York.
By this first trial, we are sending a clear signal that everyone who ordered or assisted in the commission of crimes in Ukraine will be held responsible.
The beginning of war crimes trials. The Poltava district court heard a case of two Russian troops accused of shelling civilians in the Kharkiv region. The next hearing for the pair will be on May 26, according to the Post. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that 40 Russian military members were suspected of committing war crimes, though only a few were in custody. The Russian army unit the government alleges was involved in the torture of civilians in Bucha was charged by Venediktova last month. The first war crime charges were filed after hundreds of bodies were found in the northwest suburb of Kyiv.
More than 600 people are suspected of committing war crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court launched a separate probe last month after dozens of its member states urged it to do so, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials indicted on war crime charges can't be arrested without the help of other countries. War crimes cases will be tried in domestic courts before international arrest warrants are issued, according to the Journal. Shishimarin was a member of the tank unit that was captured by the Ukrainians. The soldier, who was in a car he stole with four other Russian troops, killed Shelipov, who was on the phone and walking his bike, to stop him from notifying Ukrainian forces of their presence.
A Russian soldier was sentenced to life in prison.
A Russian soldier is asking the family of a victim for forgiveness.
The first war crimes trial for a Russian soldier has begun.
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