Ukrainian court condemned today two captured Russian soldiers to 11.5 years in prison for bombing with multiple city rocket launchers in its periphery Kharkovin northeastern Ukraine, in the second trial for committing war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
THE Alexander Bobikin and Alexander Ivanovwho heard the verdict of the district court of Kotelevska, in central Ukraine, in a canopy of reinforced glass, had both stated “Guilty” last week.
Bobikin and Ivanov were convicted of “Violation of the laws and morals of war” at the end of their trial, which began in mid-May near the city of Poltava, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
The two defendants had “They fully confessed their guilt and had expressed remorse”adds the agency.
“The guilt of Bobikin and Ivanov has been proven”said Mr. Judge Evhen Bolibok.
They both admitted last week that belonged to a unit of the Russian artillery that opened fire with a Grad multi-missile launcher to targets in the Kharkiv region from the Belgorod region in Russia.
From the bombing an educational institution was destroyed in the Ukrainian city of Derhachi, but no casualties were reported, according to the prosecutor.
Bobikin and Ivanov, described respectively as an artillery driver and gunner, were captured after crossing the border and continued bombing.
The prosecution had asked for the two soldiers to be sentenced to 12 years in prison, while the defense had asked the court to show leniency, arguing that the two soldiers were carrying out orders and have shown remorse.
On May 23 the Ukrainian justice had sentenced him to life imprisonment 21-year-old Vadim Sisimarin for the murder of a civilian. This was the first conviction of a Russian soldier for war crimes committed in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion of the country by Russian forces on February 24.
Ukrainian Prosecutor Irina Venediktova also announced on Monday that the first case involving rape by Russian soldiers had begun.
A Russian soldier is accused in the case of killing a civilian and raping his wife during the occupation of the town of Brovary, near Kyiv. However, the accused has not yet been arrested and is “wanted” by the authorities, according to Venediktova.
The prosecutor’s office is also investigating the case of two other Russian servicemen accused of torturing civilians in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine.
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