Ukraine: Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison for life – First war crimes trial

A Russian soldier on trial for the murder of an unarmed civilian has been sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court on Monday (May 23rd). war crimes conducted after invasion of Russia on February 24 in Ukraine.

Vadim Sisimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old civilian Oleksandr Selipov in the village of Tsupahivka in northeastern Ukraine on February 28, following an order he received to be shot by a car.

Judge Sergi Agafonov said, according to the Athens News Agency, that Sisimarin, carrying out a “criminal order” by a high-ranking military officer, repeatedly shot the victim in the head with an automatic weapon.

The 21-year-old watched the court silently in a canopy

Sisimarin was silently watching the procession from a reinforced glass canopy in the courtroom and showed no emotion while reading the court verdict.

This trial is of great symbolic importance for Ukraine, which accuses Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during its invasion and, as he notes, has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes.

Russia denies targeting civilians or any involvement in war crimes.

The Kremlin has not yet commented on the conviction of the Russian soldier. She had previously stated that she had no information about the trial and that the absence of a diplomatic mission to Ukraine limited her ability to provide assistance.

Source: News Beast

You may also like