Russian soldier gets life imprisonment in first Ukraine war crimes trial
A 21-year-old Russian soldier has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a civilian to death in Ukraine’s first war crimes trial.
On Monday, the court in Kyiv considered his guilt proven after the soldier’s confession that he shot a 62-year-old civilian amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This was the first case to be heard in court after the worldwide horror over Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
The shooting occurred in the village of Chupakhivka in the north-eastern Sumy region.
The soldier from Siberia said he had acted on orders from his superiors.
He apologised during the trial, and the prosecution asked for life imprisonment.
The defence argued for acquittal. He said the soldier was only carrying out an order.
The sentence will only become final after a possible appeal.
It is possible that the man will be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners in Russia.
(dpa/NAN)
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