Russian soldier at war crimes trial asks victim’s widow to forgive him

Russian army sergeant Vadim Shishimarin during a court hearing in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

A Russian soldier facing the first war crimes trial since the start of the war in Ukraine has said he shot a civilian on orders from two officers and pleaded for his victim’s widow to forgive him.

Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin told the court the officer insisted that the Ukrainian man, who was speaking on his mobile phone, could pinpoint their location to the Ukrainian forces.