Russian soldier jailed for life for war crime

KYIV — A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's invasion.

Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28, four days after the invasion.

Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a “criminal order” by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim's head from an automatic weapon.

“Given that the crime committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity and the international legal order ... the court does not see the possibility of imposing a (shorter) sentence,” he said.

The trial could be the first of many. Ukraine Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said there were about 13,000 cases of alleged Russian war crimes being probed as of Monday.

The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the verdict.

SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin listens to the sentence in the defendant's box on the last day of his trial on charges of having killed a civilian.