The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv found a Russian serviceman guilty of committing a war crime and sentenced him to life imprisonment. This was reported by the Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko, who noted that prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General insisted on such a sentence.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Circumstances of the Crime and Court Decision
The convicted soldier served as a shooter in the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion of the 40th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation. In January 2025, during combat operations in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, he, along with other soldiers, set up an ambush. Two Ukrainian defenders, being unarmed and raising their hands, surrendered. Despite this, the convicted soldier opened aimed fire on the prisoners, resulting in the deaths of both Ukrainian POWs.
“In January 2025, during battles in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, he, along with other soldiers, set up an ambush. Two Ukrainian defenders surrendered: they laid down their weapons and raised their hands. Despite this, the accused opened aimed fire on them. Both prisoners of war died,” Kravchenko stated.
The court concluded that there was no military necessity to use force against the prisoners. The convicted soldier was aware of the illegality of the order and could have refused to execute it. His actions were classified under the article concerning violations of the laws and customs of war, committed by a group of individuals, resulting in the deaths of persons protected by international humanitarian law.
Additional Circumstances and Consequences
In addition to imprisonment, the court partially satisfied the civil claim and ordered the convicted soldier to pay 50 million hryvnias as compensation for moral damages to the victim’s side. The name of the accused is not disclosed.
According to information released the day before, the prosecution demanded the harshest punishment for the Russian soldier, a native of Crimea, for the shooting of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Kursk region. During the court hearing, he admitted his guilt.
Under international humanitarian law, killing soldiers who surrender and do not resist is classified as a war crime. Reports of killings, torture, and cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Federation are received regularly.
In Zaporizhzhia, an event was held on Valentine’s Day to support the captured and missing Ukrainian soldiers.