The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office requested a life sentence for the Russian sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, who is accused of killing a civilian in the Sumy region under the article “Violation of the laws and customs of war”, the Russian BBC service reports.
It is noted that this is the first trial of the Russian military in Ukraine.
The prosecutor’s office referred to the opinion of the victim – the wife of the deceased. She stated that she wishes for the Russian military life imprisonment, but does not mind if he is exchanged for the Ukrainian military with Azovstal.
The prosecutor’s office asks for life imprisonment, despite the sincere repentance of Shishimarin and his assistance in the disclosure of the crime.
According to information, Shishmarin pleaded guilty in full on the first day of the meeting. “Why did you come, from whom to protect, did you protect me from my husband whom you killed?” – asked the widow Shelipova Shishimarina. “I admit that you cannot forgive me, but I apologize,” he said.
Shishimarin said that he shot a peaceful resident, because the other Russian military presented next to him began to worry about his safety and ordered him to do this. The Russian military suspected that a peaceful resident would call the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The military shouted so that Shishimarin shot him. “I did not want to kill him. I shot to be behind me,” Shishimarin said in court.