Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison for war crimes.

In the first war crimes trial since the invasion, a Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian tank commander to life in prison for killing a civilian.

Sgt Vadim Shishimarin, a captured soldier, was convicted of killing Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, on February 28 in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka.

He admits shooting Mr Shelipov but said he was operating on orders and begged his widow’s pardon.

Ukraine is looking into a number of other potential war crimes.

Despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary, Moscow has denied that its troop’s targeted civilians during the invasion, while Ukraine claims more than 11,000 crimes were committed.

Moscow had expressed worry earlier on Monday.

Judge Serhiy Agafonov imposed the life sentence after finding Shishimarin had followed out a “criminal instruction” from a higher-ranking soldier.

“Given that the act committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity, and the international legal system,” he was reported as saying by Reuters.

Shishimarin, who was dressed in a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, sat silently in a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no expression as the verdict was read out, according to Reuters.

His lawyer stated that he would file an appeal against the verdict.

Shishimarin, 21, was a member of Russia’s elite Kantemirovskaya tank division.

He and other soldiers were travelling in a vehicle at the time of the killing.