Ukrainian Court Imprisons Russian Soldiers Who Kill War Prisoners

Russian/Military Alexander Reka/TASS

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life imprisonment for the murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war.

This is the first time Ukraine has imprisoned a suspect on these charges since the Russian invasion.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, November 6, a court in Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhia found Dmitry Kurashov, 27, guilty of the shooting of Vitalii Hodniuk, a Ukrainian soldier who surrendered in January 2024 when his barracks were seized by Russian troops.

Kurashov, who was abused by Ukrainian forces along with other Russian troops as soon as the incident, pleaded guilty in court, although later he told reporters he was innocent and wanted to be exchanged in exchange for custody.

The verdict against Kushov has symbolic meaning to Ukraine, which states Russian troops have executed many Ukrainian prisoners of war, but the suspects are usually outside their jurisdiction.

Russia, which launched a massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, denies its troops committed war crimes.

Ukraine's Attorney General's Office told Reuters a criminal investigation was underway over the killing of 322 Ukrainian soldiers who had laid down unconditional weapons and/or surrendered since the 2022 invasion.

Kurashov, who lost his left eye during the fight against Ukraine, joined one of the Russian military's "Storm V" attacking units in exchange for early release from the prison where he served prison terms for theft, according to Ukrainian authorities.

At the end of the trial, he chose not to say anything for "his last words" to the court.

Before the verdict was read, he stood quietly and crossed his hands in front of his chest.

He refused to answer reporters' questions, but smiled slightly when asked if he hoped to be released through a prisoner swap.

The prosecutor asked the court to impose a life sentence.