21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin, the first Russian soldier to face a trial for committing a war crime in Ukraine, asked for “forgiveness” in a court located in Kyiv on Thursday, according to AFP.

After providing details of how he shot a civilian named Oleksandr to death during the initial days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian tank commander was questioned by Kateryna Shelypova, the victim’s spouse.

“Tell me what did you feel when you killed my husband? Do you repent of this crime,” she said. 

“I admit my guilt. I understand you can’t forgive me. I ask forgiveness,” Shishimarin responded as he looked straight ahead. 

Shelypova then added, “Tell me please, why did you come here? To protect us? From whom? From my husband who you killed?”

Just a day ago, Shishimarin stood inside a defendant box surrounded by a glass panel, wearing a blue and gray hoodie. As the prosecutor read out the war crime charges, the 21-year-old pleaded guilty.

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The Russian sergeant killed 62-year-old Oleksandr on February 28 when the latter was on the phone, riding his bicycle, in the Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka located in Sumy. 

Along with fellow soldiers, Shishimarin stole a Volkswagen vehicle. After spotting the civilian, an “unknown” soldier who wasn’t his commander, told Shishimarin “to shoot”.

“He started to say in a forceful tone that I should shoot,” the 21-year-old told the court on Thursday.

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“He said that I make up a danger if I don’t. I shot him at short range. It killed him,” he added.

Shishimarin’s trial marks the first war crime trial in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24. From rapes to killing sprees, several atrocities have been committed in the war-torn nation at the hands of Russian servicemen.