Ukraine sentences russian soldier to life imprisonment for killing a prisoner of war

A Ukrainian court on Thursday sentenced a Russian soldier to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war, marking the first time Ukraine has jailed a suspect on such a charge.

The court in Zaporizhzhia found Dmitry Kurashov, 27, guilty of murdering Vitaliy Hodnyuk, a Ukrainian soldier who surrendered in January 2024 when Russian forces captured his position.

Kurashov was captured by Ukrainian forces along with other Russian soldiers. He pleaded guilty in court shortly after the incident, although he later told reporters that he was innocent and wished to be included in a prisoner exchange. Following the verdict, he told Reuters that he does not plan to appeal.

His verdict holds symbolic significance for Ukraine, which claims that Russian forces have executed numerous Ukrainian prisoners of war, but the suspects are usually outside its jurisdiction.

Russia, on the other hand, firmly denies responsibility for crimes committed by Russian troops since February 2022.

The UN Human Rights Mission stated in February that it had recorded an “alarming increase” in reported executions of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian troops in previous months.

It is significant to note that the Ukrainian State Prosecutor’s Office is currently conducting criminal investigations into the murders of 322 Ukrainian soldiers who unconditionally laid down their arms or surrendered.

“This is one of the most serious crimes, it is an important issue for Ukraine, because such cases should not remain without consideration and appropriate punishment,” said the chief prosecutor in the case, Mykyta Manevskyi.

Kurashov’s lawyer, who did not appear for the sentencing, had previously told the court that a sentence of 10 years in prison would be fair, while the prosecution insisted on life imprisonment.

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