Forgiveness plea

KYIV: A Russian POW who fatally shot a Ukrainian civilian has asked the victim’s wife for forgiveness. A day earlier, Sgt Vadim Shishimarin pleaded guilty in the same Kyiv court, saying he was following orders from a Russian officer when he shot Oleksandr Shelipov

(62) through a window of a car the Russians had hijacked in Ukraine’s Sumy region.

Shishimarin (21) said his group was fleeing a Ukraine advance and the officer feared the man could pinpoint their location to Ukrainian forces. He said he at first disobeyed his commanding officer’s order but had to follow the order when it was repeated by another officer.

‘‘I realise that you can’t forgive me, but I’m pleading for forgiveness,’’ Shishimarin said.

Kateryna Shelipova said the soldier deserved a life sentence. — TCA