Thursday 19 May 2022 10:10 PM Russian tank commander who murdered innocent Ukrainian grandfather could walk ... trends now
The baby-faced Russian tank commander who murdered an innocent grandfather in Ukraine smirked in the dock yesterday as it emerged he could be sent home in a prisoner swap.
Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, 21, hung his head and begged for 'forgiveness' when he was cross-examined by the widow of Oleksandr Shelypov, 62, whom he shot in the head with an AK-47 assault rifle on the fifth day of Russia's invasion.
But the dead-eyed killer grinned after prosecutors revealed that two of his comrades – who had been due to give evidence against him – had been sent back to Russia in a prisoner swap.
Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, 21, a former tank sergeant in the Russian army, is facing life in jail after admitting war crimes charges on Wednesday
The dead-eyed killer grinned after prosecutors revealed that two of his comrades – who had been due to give evidence against him – had been sent back to Russia in a prisoner swap
Oleksandr Shelypov once served the Russian elite as part of the Soviet KGB, but was ultimately shot dead by Russian troops
Shishimarin (right) says he was ordered to shoot the man while he and his comrades were driving through Sumy province so he wouldn't give away their position
The case was adjourned for sentencing today, with Shishimarin facing life behind bars.
News of a possible deal with Moscow emerged when Mr Shelypov's widow Kateryna told judges she would approve of swapping Shishimarin for Ukrainians captured in the Azovstal factory in Mariupol.
The 61-year-old said: 'I want him to get life, but if he is exchanged for defenders of the Azovstal, our boys from Mariupol, I will not mind. I will not be against it.'
Russian forces are holding more than 1,700 Ukrainian fighters who had been living in tunnels at the plant this week following a two-month siege that has made them national heroes. Kyiv said it was negotiating an exchange of the fighters for Russian prisoners.
But Russia has not confirmed that a swap will take
