Nina, 66, observes her heavily damaged property on May 11, 2022 in Pidhaine, Ukraine.
(Picture: Getty Images)Ukraine has announced the first Russian to stand trial for committing war crimes in the Ukraine, the country’s prosecutor general has said.
More than 10,700 crimes have been registered since the start of the war, Ukraine’s prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova said.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, is accused of killing a 62-year-old civilian on February 28.
Shishimarin and four other soldiers were fleeing in a stolen car outside the village of Chupakhivka before the accused was ordered to shoot the civilian so he could not report them.
The serviceman is in custody and faces the possibility of life imprisonment on charges of war crimes and premediated murder.
A statement from Ms Venediktova’s office said: “One of the military servicemen ordered the accused to kill a civilian so that he would not report them.
"The man died on the spot just a few dozen metres from his home.”
Washington and the UK have also accused Russia of committing war crimes since the invasion began in February.
The UK announced a team of experts would be dispatched to assess the alleged atrocities committed by Russian troops earlier this month.
Attorney General Suella Braverman also led a group of war crimes experts in Poland as part of the UK’s support for investigations into Russian atrocities.
Ms Braverman said: “Russia has brought barbarity to Ukraine and committed vile atrocities, including against women.
“I am pleased to have led the UK delegation of war crimes experts to Ukraine and to have met those leading Ukraine’s journey to justice, including the indefatigable Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova.
“I am determined that British expertise will help Iryna and her team to uncover the truth and hold Putin’s regime to account for its actions. Justice will be done.”
As of May 10, the UN estimates that 3,496 civilians have been killed in the war in Ukraine and a further 3,760 have been injured.
