First trial for a war crime: Russian explains how he killed civilian
SONYA LUKASHOVA - Thursday, 19 May 2022, 16:29
The prosecutor's office asked the court to sentence Vadim Shishimarin, a Russian serviceman accused of killing a civilian in the Sumy region, to life in prison. He pleaded guilty and apologised.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda’s correspondent from the courtroom
Quote from Shishimarin: "On the way, Ensign Makeyev (a Russian serviceman who was driving a car - Ukrainska Pravda) saw a man, he was talking on the phone. Makeyev said that he would betray us, that he was calling the military. And he gave [me] an order to shoot. I didn't shoot.
Then another serviceman, sitting to the right of the driver, turned around and began commanding me to shoot. And he argued that we will not reach our troops, we will not call for help, and we are in danger.
I did not see the victim at this time. I only saw him when we got nearer to him, and I fired in a short burst. That's how I killed him."
Details: On February 24, Shishimarin and other Russian servicemen left Belgorod Oblast across the Ukrainian border. According to the Russian, he did not know that he was going to fight, and had dry food only for 3 days.
On the morning of February 28, Shishimarin's convoy was travelling through the Sumy region to Russia to evacuate the wounded. Not far from the village of Hrinchenkove, they were attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their column was broken up. After that, the Russians were left without transport and split up into several groups. Shishimarin stayed with 4 other men.
Between the villages of Chupakhivka and Hrinchenkove, they noticed a man in a Volkswagen car and decided to steal the vehicle. The Russians shot at the car. Its owner managed to escape and hide.
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They turned the car around and drove to the village of Chupakhivka. They were planning to reach their troops. In the village, the military saw a civilian man, 62-year-old Olexander Shelipov, talking on the phone. They decided that the local man wanted to hand them over to Ukrainian defenders. Then Shishimarin shot Shelipov.
After that, the Russians were ambushed: local hunters engaged them in battle. One of the Russian servicemen was wounded. He was left on the battlefield, and died.
The Russians hid on a farm, where they stayed until morning, and the next morning they surrendered to the locals with weapons.
Two captured Russians from this group were later exchanged. Another testified in court. The court also questioned Kateryna Shelipova, the widow of the murdered man and their neighbour.
Російський військовий Вадим Шишимарін розповів у суді, як убив цивільного на Сумщині pic.twitter.com/PA4x3nZBhf
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) May 19, 2022
Background:
- On May 4, the Security Service of Ukraine released a video of the Russian soldier Shishimarin confessing to killing civilians.
- On May 11, the prosecutor's office announced that his case had been sent to court.
Shishimarin is accused of violating the laws and customs of war. He has pleaded guilty and repented.
