Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old sergeant in the Russian army, was sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court for committing war crimes during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was the first time that a trial took place in relation to war crimes in the ongoing crisis and the judge decided to hand Shishimarin a life sentence after he was found guilty of killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in Sumy region of Ukraine. The trial has developed into a crucial opportunity for Ukraine to prove that the Russian military has been attacking civilians without any regard for the rules of war.

Serhii Ahafonov, the judge presiding over the case, announced his verdict and said that although Shishimarin has expressed remorse, there was no leniency in the statement handed out to him.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-rules-out-ceasefire-or-any-territorial-concessions-to-russia-481349" hreflang="en">Ukraine rules out ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Russia</a>

After the verdict, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, has said that she has more than 40 similar cases and they will all be going to trail in the near future. She added that this is just the beginning as authorities have registered more than 10,000 instances of war crimes across Ukraine.

The main defense from Shishimarin’s lawyer was that the 21-year-old was forced to shoot the civilian with a rifle while travelling in a car with his fellow soldiers. However, he pleaded guilty to the crime and the court said in its statement that they did not have concrete evidence of coercion.

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"I feel very sorry for him but for a crime like that - I can't forgive him," victim's widow Kateryna Shelipova told BBC.

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Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old sergeant in the Russian army, was sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court for committing war crimes during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old sergeant in the Russian army, was sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court for committing war crimes during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was the first time that a trial took place in relation to war crimes in the ongoing crisis and the judge decided to hand Shishimarin a life sentence after he was found guilty of killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in Sumy region of Ukraine. The trial has developed into a crucial opportunity for Ukraine to prove that the Russian military has been attacking civilians without any regard for the rules of war. Serhii Ahafonov, the judge presiding over the case, announced his verdict and said that although Shishimarin has expressed remorse, there was no leniency in the statement handed out to him. Also read | Ukraine rules out ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Russia After the verdict, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, has said that she has more than 40 similar cases and they will all be going to trail in the near future. She added that this is just the beginning as authorities have registered more than 10,000 instances of war crimes across Ukraine. The main defense from Shishimarin’s lawyer was that the 21-year-old was forced to shoot the civilian with a rifle while travelling in a car with his fellow soldiers. However, he pleaded guilty to the crime and the court said in its statement that they did not have concrete evidence of coercion. Also read | China sees red at US Indo-Pacific strategy, calls it a ploy to create division "I feel very sorry for him but for a crime like that - I can't forgive him," victim's widow Kateryna Shelipova told BBC. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin jailed for life by Ukrainian court over war crime

During the second hearing on Friday (May 20), the first Russian soldier who is facing war crime charges in Ukraine has said that he is "truly and sincerely sorry" and added that he will accept any punishment from the court.&nbsp;

The 21-year-old Russian tank commander, identified as Vadim Shishimarin, has pleaded guilty to killing a 62-year-old civilian Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeast Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on February 28, a few days after Russia started the invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Shishimarin told the court that he "was nervous about what was going on" and said that he "didn’t want to kill" Shelipov. He even asked Shelipov's widow for forgiveness. Meanwhile, the prosecutors have asked for life imprisonment for Shishimarin.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/siege-at-steel-plant-in-mariupol-over-as-531-ukraines-defenders-surrender-claims-russia-480842">Siege at steel plant in Mariupol over as 531 Ukraine's defenders surrender, claims Russia</a>

The Russian soldier said, "I'm truly and sincerely sorry. I didn't want that to happen, I didn't want to be there, but it happened. I would like to apologise once again. And I will accept all the measures of punishment that I will be offered."&nbsp;

On the other hand, while concluding, defence lawyer Viktor Ovsiannikov told the court that Shishimarin had fired the rounds out of fear for his own safety. The lawyer also asked whether the defendant had intended to kill.&nbsp;

Ovsiannikov argued that the Russian had only fired the rounds after twice refusing to carry out the order to shoot. He said that&nbsp;only one out of three-to-four rounds hit the target.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-proposes-formal-deal-with-allies-to-secure-russian-compensation-for-ukraines-invasion-480862">Zelensky proposes formal deal with allies to secure Russian compensation for Ukraine's invasion</a>

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Russia using food as a weapon?

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Ovsiannikov said, "He was sitting at the window of a car... the car was moving at high speed with a punctured tyre. I conclude that Shishimarin fired aimless shots and did not intend to kill the civilian, and that he carried out the order not with the aim of killing the person, but formally, with the hope that (the rounds) would not hit".&nbsp;

He said: "I personally think that it should not be this young man in the dock, but the senior leadership of the other country that I think is guilty of unleashing this war."&nbsp;

A verdict in the case might be announced on Monday when the court next convenes.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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During the second hearing on Friday (May 20), the first Russian soldier who is facing war crime charges in Ukraine has said that he is "truly and sincerely sorry" and added that he will accept any punishment from the court.

During the second hearing on Friday (May 20), the first Russian soldier who is facing war crime charges in Ukraine has said that he is "truly and sincerely sorry" and added that he will accept any punishment from the court. The 21-year-old Russian tank commander, identified as Vadim Shishimarin, has pleaded guilty to killing a 62-year-old civilian Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeast Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on February 28, a few days after Russia started the invasion of Ukraine. Shishimarin told the court that he "was nervous about what was going on" and said that he "didn’t want to kill" Shelipov. He even asked Shelipov's widow for forgiveness. Meanwhile, the prosecutors have asked for life imprisonment for Shishimarin. ALSO READ | Siege at steel plant in Mariupol over as 531 Ukraine's defenders surrender, claims Russia The Russian soldier said, "I'm truly and sincerely sorry. I didn't want that to happen, I didn't want to be there, but it happened. I would like to apologise once again. And I will accept all the measures of punishment that I will be offered." On the other hand, while concluding, defence lawyer Viktor Ovsiannikov told the court that Shishimarin had fired the rounds out of fear for his own safety. The lawyer also asked whether the defendant had intended to kill. Ovsiannikov argued that the Russian had only fired the rounds after twice refusing to carry out the order to shoot. He said that only one out of three-to-four rounds hit the target. ALSO READ | Zelensky proposes formal deal with allies to secure Russian compensation for Ukraine's invasion WATCH | Gravitas: Russia using food as a weapon? × Ovsiannikov said, "He was sitting at the window of a car... the car was moving at high speed with a punctured tyre. I conclude that Shishimarin fired aimless shots and did not intend to kill the civilian, and that he carried out the order not with the aim of killing the person, but formally, with the hope that (the rounds) would not hit". He said: "I personally think that it should not be this young man in the dock, but the senior leadership of the other country that I think is guilty of unleashing this war." A verdict in the case might be announced on Monday when the court next convenes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Truly sorry': Russian soldier in war crimes trial in Ukraine says didn't want to kill, will accept punishment

The Russian soldier who was put on trial for war crimes in Kyiv pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

21-year-old sergeant Vadim Shishimarin's case is the first war crimes investigation being conducted by Ukraine amid the war with Russia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-defence-minister-oleksiy-reznikov-says-war-with-russia-is-entering-protracted-phase-479988">Also Read:&nbsp;Ukrainian defence minister says war with Russia is entering 'protracted phase</a>

Shishimarin has been charged with the death of a man in eastern Ukraine just days after the Russian invasion which was announced by President Vladimir Putin on February 24.

Shishimarin has been charged with war crimes and premeditated murder. Ukrainian officials had said earlier that the Russian soldier had admitted to killing the civilian.

Shishimarin apparently killed the 62-year-old man with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, Ukraine's prosecutor said. He and four other Russian soldiers had stolen a car and were travelling in a village called Chupakhivka in the Sumy region where Shishimarin allegedly killed the man.

Watch:&nbsp;Kyiv urges to swap Azovstal defenders

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Ukrainian authorities said the Russian soldier was fighting to support his mother financially. It is the first war crimes indictment case in Ukraine even as it continues to fight against Russian forces.

Ukraine's chief prosecutor Iryna Venediktova informed that there are 11,000 ongoing cases of war crimes already with 40 suspects.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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The Russian soldier who was put on trial for war crimes in Kyiv pleaded guilty on Wednesday. 21-year-old sergeant Vadim Shishimarin's case is the first war crimes investigation being conducted by Ukraine amid the war with Russia.

The Russian soldier who was put on trial for war crimes in Kyiv pleaded guilty on Wednesday. 21-year-old sergeant Vadim Shishimarin's case is the first war crimes investigation being conducted by Ukraine amid the war with Russia. Also Read: Ukrainian defence minister says war with Russia is entering 'protracted phase Shishimarin has been charged with the death of a man in eastern Ukraine just days after the Russian invasion which was announced by President Vladimir Putin on February 24. Shishimarin has been charged with war crimes and premeditated murder. Ukrainian officials had said earlier that the Russian soldier had admitted to killing the civilian. Shishimarin apparently killed the 62-year-old man with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, Ukraine's prosecutor said. He and four other Russian soldiers had stolen a car and were travelling in a village called Chupakhivka in the Sumy region where Shishimarin allegedly killed the man. Watch: Kyiv urges to swap Azovstal defenders Ukrainian authorities said the Russian soldier was fighting to support his mother financially. It is the first war crimes indictment case in Ukraine even as it continues to fight against Russian forces. Ukraine's chief prosecutor Iryna Venediktova informed that there are 11,000 ongoing cases of war crimes already with 40 suspects. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russian soldier charged with war crimes in Ukraine pleads guilty