A Kyiv district court heard charges against a captured Russian soldier on Wednesday, as the country’s first war criminal trial of symbolic importance moves forward fast. fast.
The Russian soldier was charged with murder and “violation of the laws and customs of war” under Article 438 of the Ukrainian Penal Code.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, pleaded guilty “totally” on Wednesday and is facing a life sentence.
In a detailed outline of events, the prosecutor told the court that Shishimarin, along with four other Russian servicemen, stole a vehicle to escape shelling by Ukrainian forces. The group drove into the village of Chupakhivka, where they encountered an unarmed civilian riding a bicycle and talking on a mobile phone.
“With the impression that civilians were about to inform the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one of the soldiers ordered Shishimarin to kill civilians,” the prosecutor said.
Citing articles 50 and 51 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the prosecutor accused Shishimarin of firing multiple targeted shots with a Kalashnikov rifle from the back window of his car, hitting the victim in the head.
“The victim died of a skull fracture after five soldiers left the scene,” the prosecutor said. After days of hiding, the group finally surrendered to local residents, the prosecutor added.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday because too many members of the media crowded the courtroom.
Judges will hear testimony from Shishimarin on Thursday, as well as from the victim’s widow. Two other witnesses will testify on behalf of the prosecution, including a Russian soldier present at the crime scene.
This is the first war crimes trial held since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. The prosecutor hopes to have more trials. To date, more than 12,000 war crimes have been recorded by the Ukrainian authorities.
