In a first, Ukraine to hold war crimes trial

KYIV: Ukraine announced it will hold its first war crimes trial over the Russian invasion, as Moscow accused Kyiv of shelling a Russian city in the war’s latest flashpoint.

Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russian troops of committing atrocities since the invasion began on February 24, and Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday they would launch the first war crimes trial of the conflict. The prosecutor general’s office said Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old Russian service member, is accused of killing an unarmed 62-year-old civilian as he fled with four other soldiers in a stolen car.

“The man died on the spot just a few dozen metres from his home,” said a statement from prosecutor Iryna Venediktova’s office. Shishimarin faces possible life imprisonment if found guilty.

Venediktova’s office has said it has received reports of more than 10,000 alleged war crimes, with 622 suspects identified.

Meanwhile, three people were killed and 12 others wounded in a Russian strike in Ukraine’s northern Chernigiv region.

“We have three people killed and 12 wounded as a result of a strike” in Novgorod-Siversky, a spokesman said. The town is in the north-eastern corner of the country, around 45 kilometres south of the Russian border.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister said the country wants a spot reserved in the European Union, even if obtaining full membership could take time.

“It is not about the fastest possible membership for Ukraine in the EU. But what is very important for us is for this spot to be reserved for Ukraine,” Dmytro Kuleba told reporters in Berlin.