A court in Ukraine has jailed a Russian tank commander for life for killing a civilian at the first war crimes trial since the invasion.
Captured soldier, Sgt Vadim Shishimarin was convicted of killing Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka on the 28th of February.
He admitted shooting Mr Shelipov but said he had been acting on orders and asked forgiveness of his widow.
Multiple other alleged war crimes are being investigated by Ukraine.
Moscow has denied its troops targeted civilians during the invasion while Ukraine says more than 11,000 crimes may have occurred.
This trial in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv is being seen as Ukraine’s chance to prove, beyond doubt, that a Russian soldier killed a civilian with no regard for the rules of war.
Moscow said earlier on Monday that it was concerned at the fate of the Russian soldier and would look at options to defend him.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov however, noted that Russia did “not have the capacity to protect his interests in person”. Russia’s embassy in Kyiv is currently closed.
Bbc/Adebukola Aluko
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