First Russian soldier goes on trial in Ukraine for war crimes
- Vadim Shishimarin is accused of killing a 62-year-old civilian during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- While Moscow has denied its forces committed abuses, the serviceman faces up to life imprisonment if convicted
A Ukrainian court held a preliminary hearing on Friday in the first war crimes trial arising from Moscow’s February 24 invasion, after charging a captured Russian soldier with the murder of a 62-year-old civilian.
The case is of huge symbolic importance for Ukraine. The Kyiv government has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during the invasion and said it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes.
Russia has denied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes and accused Kyiv of staging them to smear its forces. The Kremlin told reporters on Friday that it had no information about a war crimes trial.
The defendant told the court he was Vadim Shishimarin, born in Russia’s Irkutsk region and confirmed that he was a Russian serviceman in the short, preliminary hearing. The court will reconvene on May 18, the judge said.
The Kyiv district court’s website said Shishimarin was accused of “violations of the laws and norms of war”.