Max Hunder and Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters – A 21-year old Russian soldier requested that a Ukrainian widow forgive him for his murder. This happened as a Kyiv court met on Thursday for the second hearing in the war crimes case arising out of Russia’s February 24 invasion.

Vadim Schishimarin, a commander of tanks, pleaded guilty to murdering Oleksandr Shihelipov, an unarmed civilian aged 62, at Chupakhivka in northeast Ukrainian on February 28.

“I admit my fault… “I acknowledge my fault…,” he said to Kateryna, Kateryna’s widow at the Thursday hearing, which was attended by Reuters.

Shishimarin, Boyish in a tracksuit, shaved his head and dressed in black, created a sad spectacle inside a booth that was being used for defendants. While he was calm and composed, his expressions were frightened.

According to the Kremlin, it does not have any information on the case and the presence of a diplomat mission in Ukraine hinders its ability provide legal aid.

According to the widow, she claimed that distant shots were heard from her yard. She also stated that she called out to her husband on the day he died.

I ran to my husband and he was dead. The head was shot. She screamed and screamed in pain. She was disoriented and her voice was full of emotion.

Shelipova stated to the court that she wouldn’t object to Shishimarin being released to Russia in a prisoner swap. This was to “our boys” get out of Mariupol port, which is a reference the hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who gave themselves to Russia.

As much as Ukraine is worried about the fate of its soldiers, it awaits a Russian exchange. Russian voices call for the trial of these soldiers for their crimes.

Shelipova stated that her husband was not armed and dressed in civilian clothes. She said that the couple had a 27 year-old son, and they also shared two grandchildren.

Russia has been accused of crimes against humanity and violence committed by Ukraine during its invasion. It has claimed that it has already identified over 10,000 war crimes. Russia denied the targeting of civilians, or its involvement in war crime.

Shishimarin has been accused of firing multiple shots from an assault rifle at the head of a civilian after being told to.

Shishimarin answered “no” when asked if he was forced to comply with an order that could be considered a war crime.

He told the court that he had fired three to four shots in a brief burst.

I am originally from Irkutsk Oblast, a Siberian region. I have two siblings and two brothers. He said, “I am the oldest.”

If convicted, Shishimarin may face life imprisonment