A Ukrainian court has convicted 21-year-old Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin after he pleaded guilty to killing a Ukrainian civilian in the first week of Russia’s invasion. 

On Monday, judges in Kyiv handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Mr Shishimarin for war crimes in Ukraine’s first trial since the invasion in February. 

Judge Serhiy Ahafonov pronounced Mr Shishimarin guilty of violating the laws and customs of war and of committing premeditated murder. 

“The defendant admitted his guilt in part, arguing that he had no intention of killing Mr Shelipov,” said Mr Ahafonov. “The court cannot recognize the sincerity of repentance.”

Last week, Mr Shishimarin pleaded guilty to shooting a 62-year-old civilian, Oleksandr Shelipov, in the northern region of Sumy. 

Earlier this month, the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, posted a short video of Mr Shyshimarin, briefly describing how he murdered the civilian. The SBU described the video as “one of the first confessions of the enemy invaders.”

Russia responded to the news with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that Moscow was “concerned” about Mr Shishimarin and would consider its options to protect the soldier’s interests.

“Of course, we are concerned about the fate of our citizen,” Mr Peskov said. “Unfortunately, we are unable to defend his interests on the ground. This is due to the de facto lack of operations of our institutions [in Ukraine], but this does not mean we will stop considering ways to continue our efforts through other channels.”

Other trials ongoing involve two Russian soldiers charged with war crimes in the alleged shelling of civilian targets in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.