The Russian soldier on trial in kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, for a war crime "is not guilty". This is what his lawyer says on the third day of this first trial of its kind since the start of the Russian invasion. The verdict will be announced on Monday.

"In view of all the evidence and testimony, I believe that Mr. Chichimarine is not guilty of the crime with which he is charged," said Viktor Ovsiannykov, his lawyer, during his closing argument. He asked the judges "to acquit (his) client".

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“I am sincerely sorry,” said Sergeant Vadim Chichimarine, 21, minutes later, who admitted Wednesday to killing Oleksandr Chelipov, a 62-year-old civilian, on February 28 in northeastern Ukraine. "I regret what I did," added the young man, shaved head, from his glass cage. Before adding: “I was nervous in this situation. I didn't want to kill." "I want to apologize for what I did."

"He was carrying out a criminal order and was well aware of it"

The lawyer assured that his client did not want to carry out the order to shoot, arguing that he did not obey at first. The defense also stressed that he voluntarily surrendered to Ukrainian forces and does not deny the facts. The lawyer further assured that the soldier was only trying to save his life, placing the responsibility on his commanders.

These arguments were swept away by the prosecution, which demanded life imprisonment. "He was carrying out a criminal order and was well aware of it," one of the prosecutors said.

According to the prosecution, Vadim Chichimarine was commanding a small unit within a tank division when his convoy was attacked. With four other soldiers, he then stole a car. As they were driving near the village of Choupakhivka, in the Sumy region (northeast), they came across Oleksandr Chelipov, who was pushing his bicycle while on the phone. Vadim Chichimarine then shot him dead.

Already on Thursday, this soldier from Irkutsk, Siberia, "asked forgiveness" from Oleksandr Chelipov's widow during a brief exchange between them in a court room in kyiv, justifying his act by the "orders » receipts.