Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin could face up to life in prison if found guilty of shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian man.
Ukraine on Friday held a preliminary hearing of a case against a 21-year-old Russian soldier accused of killing an unarmed 62-year-old Ukrainian man, potentially the first of many trials as authorities forge ahead with efforts to investigate what they say are thousands of potential war crimes committed by Russian troops during the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Shishimarin was a member of a tank unit captured by Ukrainian forces, according to AP. In a statement before the hearing, Vendiktova’s office said the 21-year-old soldier and four other Russian troops stole a car in an attempt to escape after Ukrainian forces targeted their column.
