A Russian soldier facing the first war crimes trial since Moscow invaded Ukraine pleaded guilty on Wednesday (May 18) to killing an unarmed civilian.

Video shows the 21-year-old soldier appearing in court on May 13 in Kyiv accused of murdering an unarmed man on a bicycle.

Vadim Shyshimarin, a member of a tank unit, allegedly shot the man through an open car window in the northeastern village of Chupakhivka in the first week of war.

The soldier is charged with the premeditated murder of a 62-year-old man.

Speaking in Ukrainian, prosecutor Andrei Sinyuk says in the video: "As of today, they are already starting to go to court, just like we have today, pre-trial consideration is being scheduled. Today is the first criminal proceedings, but in the near future, there will be a lot of such criminal proceedings. I want to assure you: everyone who illegally invaded our territory, who commits criminal offences on the territory of Ukraine, including war crimes, will be held criminally liable, regardless of whether he manages to leave the territory of Ukraine or fails to leave the territory of Ukraine."

Russian soldier appears in court in first war crimes trial since invasion accused of murdering unarmed man on bicycle: In Kyiv on Friday, May 13, the trial of a captured Russian tanker, who is accused of killing a civilian in Ukraine, begins. This is the first case in Ukraine of a Russian soldier taken prisoner after the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

According to the investigation, on February 28, 2022, Sergeant Vadim Shishmarin shot a 62-year-old man in the head while he was riding a bicycle and talking on the phone. This happened in the village of Chupahovka, Sumy region.

21-year-old Shishmarin will be tried under the article of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Violation of the laws and customs of war." It is not reported under what circumstances the tanker was captured and whether he admits guilt.

Prosecutor Andrei Sinyuk: As of today, they are already starting to go to court, just like we have today, pre-trial consideration is being scheduled. Today is the first criminal proceedings, but in the near future there will be a lot of such criminal proceedings. I want to assure you: everyone who illegally invaded our territory, who commits criminal offenses on the territory of Ukraine, including war crimes, will be held criminally liable, regardless of whether he manages to leave the territory of Ukraine or fails to leave the territory of Ukraine.