Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin sentenced to life in prison for killing a Ukrainian civilian

A court in Kyiv has sentenced Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin to life imprisonment for killing 62-year-old civilian Oleksandr Shelipov in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.

Shishimarin was charged with violating the laws and customs of war and with premeditated murder.

Shishimarin pleaded guilty in court and asked Shelipov’s widow to forgive him. He claimed he didn’t want to kill Shelipov and that he was just following his officer’s orders. His lawyer asked for his acquittal.

According to the evidence presented in court, the convoy Shishimarin was traveling with came under fire on February 28. Trying to hide, he and several other soldiers fired on and commandeered a private vehicle, puncturing its tire in the process. As they drove away, they saw a man on the side of the road talking on the phone. Convinced he might tell the Ukrainian military about them, Shishimarin’s fellow soldiers ordered him to kill the man. Shishimarin shot him from the car window using his assault rifle.

Vadim Shishimarin was later captured by Ukrainian troops.