In the first war crimes trial in Ukraine, the accused Russian soldier turned to the wife of the 62-year-old Ukrainian he shot: "I know that you cannot forgive me, but I still ask for forgiveness," he said in court.
The first Russian soldier to be tried for war crimes in Kyiv since the beginning of the Ukraine war has asked a court for "forgiveness". "I know you cannot forgive me, but I still ask for your forgiveness," said 21-year-old tanker Vadim Shishimarin at the hearing to the wife of the 62-year-old civilian whose killing he had already confessed to.
Shishimarin is accused of shooting the unarmed man in a stolen car on February 28 in the northern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka. When asked in court if he pleaded guilty, he replied "yes." The soldier from Irkutsk, Siberia faces a life sentence for war crimes and murder.
According to Ukrainian investigators, the young man wanted to flee with four comrades in a stolen car after an attack on his convoy in northern Ukraine. The victim witnessed the theft of the car. Schischimarin confirmed this representation in court.
Another Russian soldier in the car, who was not his commander, "told me to shoot," he said. "He started saying in a forceful tone that I should shoot (and) that I would create a threat if I didn't." He shot the 62-year-old from close range. "It killed him."
Ukraine has accused the Russian army of committing numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity since the invasion began on February 24. War crimes trials of two other Russian soldiers are scheduled to begin later Thursday. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also investigating alleged international crimes.
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses the Russian armed forces of numerous war crimes. A Wednesday report included seven cases of torture, six possible kidnappings and 22 killings. According to the organization, the incidents occurred around the northern regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv.
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