Ukraine: requested life imprisonment for Russian soldier tried for war crimes

Speaking on the second day of the trial, the prosecutor asked the court to announce life imprisonment for Vadim Chichimarine, 21, according to a journalist fromAFPFrance Media Agency present in the courtroom.

The accused apologized on Thursday to the widow of the 62-year-old man he accused of killing on February 28 in Tchupakhivka, a village in northeastern Ukraine.

I acknowledge my responsibility […] I ask you to forgive mehe told Katerina Chalipova on Thursday from the glass box where she appeared, wearing a tracksuit, shaved her head and bowed her head.

He is accused of, on command, firing multiple guns at his victim using an assault rifle from a car. Asked if he was forced to comply with an order constituting a war crime, he replied No..

I fired short bursts, three or four roundshe told the court.

The Kremlin stated that it had no information on this trial, explaining that the lack of diplomatic representation in Ukraine limits the ability to provide legal assistance to the accused.

During her court hearing, Katerina Chalipova explained that she heard gunshots coming from her garden on the day of the incident. I ran to my wife, she was dead. There was a bullet in the head. I screamed, I screamed too muchdid he say.

He specified that his wife was unarmed and wearing civilian clothing. The couple has a 27-year-old son and two grandchildren.

He said he would not oppose the possible transfer of Vadim Chichimarine to Russia in the framework of an exchange of prisoners if it would allow the return of our men taken during the siege of Mariupol, in reference to the hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered to Russian troops.

Ukraine says it has recorded more than 10,000 possible cases of Russia’s war crimes since the aggression began, while Moscow denies its military targets civilians or participates in war crimes.