Russian military sentenced to life imprisonment in Ukraine

MOSCOW: A court in Kyiv has sentenced Russian Armed Forces soldier Vadim Shishimarin to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of killing a civilian in the Sumy region, Ukrainian media reported.

“To be found guilty of committing a criminal offense under the second part of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced to life imprisonment,” Ria Novosti quotes the judge’s verdict.

The court concluded that the murder was committed by Shishimarin "with intent, the order to shoot a civilian was illegal, and the accused, realizing this, could refuse to carry it out or not aim at the victim."

The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, answering the question whether there is a reaction to the expectation of the verdict on the Russian military in Kyiv, said that Russia does not have many opportunities to protect him in Ukraine on the spot, but measures will be taken through other channels.

Earlier, on February 13, 2018, a Kyiv court found guilty of desertion and treason former Russian servicemen Alexander Baranov and Maxim Odintsov, who were kidnapped by the SBU from Crimea in November 2016. Odintsov was sentenced to 14 years in prison, Baranov to 13 years. Later they went through the exchange procedure.