Ukrainian prosecutors seek life sentence for Russian soldier in war crimes trial

Ukrainian prosecutors on Thursday demanded that a Russian soldier, who testified that he shot a civilian at the order of an officer, receive life sentence.

Vadim Shishimari, facing the first war crimes trial since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, was charged with shooting a 62-year-old in the head through an open car window in a village in the northeastern Sumy region, on 28 February, four days after the invasion, Euronews wrote.

Shishimari, who has admitted the charges, testified Thursday that he shot a civilian at the order of two officers and prayed that the victim's widow forgive him.

I understand you can't forgive me, but I'm begging you for forgiveness”, Shishimar said.

The 21-year-old soldier told a court in Kiev that the officer insisted that Ukrainian, who was speaking on his cell phone, could show their whereabouts to Ukrainian forces.

On Thursday he asked the victim's dew, which also appeared in court, to forgive him for what he did.

The woman, Catherine Shelipova, said her 62-year-old husband, Oleksander Shelipov, came out to see what was happening when gun shooting fell outside their home.

When the shooting stopped a little later, she went out and found her husband killed with firearms outside their home.

Shelipova told the court that Shishimari deserves a life sentence for her husband's murder, but added that she would not mind whether he would be exchanged as part of a possible exchange of prisoners with Russia for Ukrainian defenders delivered to the Azovstal steel plant in Marioupol.

The prosecutor sought life sentence for Sishimari and the trial was postponed for Friday.

Shishimari, a captured member of a Russian tank unit, is being prosecuted under a section of Ukraine's penal code dealing with the laws and customs of war.

While the inaugural case of war crimes in Ukraine, the prosecution of Sishimari was being closely monitored.

Investigators have gathered evidence of possible war crimes to be brought before the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague.