Russian war criminal sentenced for life in Kyiv court

Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin, 21, has been found guilty of murdering Oleksandr Shepylov, a 62-year old civilian, and sentenced for life, a newsperson for Novaya Gazeta Europe reports from the courtroom in Kyiv. A video of the verdict pronouncement is available on YouTube.

Shishimarin served as a tank crew commander and was based in Moscow. Yaroslav Ushchapyvsky, the proseсutor, insisted that Shishimarin serve a lifetime sentence for committing a war crime.

Our reporter says Shishimarin was motionless when the verdict was pronounced, possibly to hear what the interpreter says to him. The judge read out loud the protocols of weapons examination, including the one of Shishimarin’s assault rifle. The crime was re-enacted at the scene, involving four witnesses, in order to get a better picture of what had happened. The judge has concluded that Shishimarin committed wilful homicide. Refusing to follow the order was of no danger to Shishimarin, moreover, he was able to pretend missing Shelypov accidentally. His behaviour during the trial proves that he was aware of what he was doing, the judge said.

The judge also waived the defence’s statements that Shishimarin had no intention to kill the civilian. The defendant reacted to these conclusions with indifference and stood motionless, the Novaya Gazeta Europe reporter says.

The judge also noted that what Shishimarin did can be defined as an international war crime.

Shishimarin addressed Kateryna, Shelypov’s widow, during his final plea a few days ago. “I understand that you’re never going to forgive me, but still, I apologise. I regret doing this… I am sorry. I was stressed out when I did this. I did not want to kill this man,” he said to her.

Shishimarin killed an unarmed civilian in Chupakhivka, Sumy region, on 28 February. On that day, Shishmarin, alongside his fellow soldiers, was trying to get away from the chase, driving a stolen car. The prosecutor’s theory is that upon entering Chupakhivka, Shishimarin shot a man who happened to be on the way so that he would not report them to the Ukrainian army. Shelypov, the victim, was shot dead a few yards away from his home.

Shishimarin’s defence attorney claimed that an ensign named Kafurov who commanded Shishimarin to murder the civilian is responsible for the crime. The prosecutor, however, insisted that Kafurov was not Shishimarin’s immediate commander and that Shishimarin could have ignored the order.

According to Iryna Venediktova, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Shishimarin is the first Russian soldier to be taken to court in Ukraine for killing a civilian.

Ivan Baboshin reports from Kyiv exclusively For Novaya Gazeta Europe