A Ukrainian court has sentenced Russian soldier Dmitry Kurashov to life in prison for the killing of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, Vitalii Hodniuk. Kurashov, 27, was convicted of shooting Hodniuk, a 41-year-old veteran, after he had surrendered during a confrontation near Zaporizhzhia on January 6, 2024.
Evidence presented during the trial included expert reports, witness statements, and video footage, which indicated that Kurashov deliberately killed Hodniuk following orders from his commanders not to take Ukrainian soldiers captive. Prosecutors argued that Kurashov shot Hodniuk at point-blank range with an AK-47 while he was unarmed and surrendered, which they claimed violated international laws of war.
In the trial, Kurashov initially pleaded guilty but later recanted, stating that he had hoped to expedite proceedings for a potential prisoner swap. He claimed that a Russian medic, who later died, was responsible for Hodniuk’s death. This assertion was contradicted by members of Kurashov’s own unit, who testified that they witnessed Hodniuk emerge unarmed with his hands raised. Although they did not see the actual shooting, they confirmed that Kurashov was the only one present when the shots were fired.
Kurashov did not provide testimony during the trial. His defense attorney noted that he expressed remorse and believed he was acting under orders. The prosecutor, Nikita Manevsky, argued for a severe sentence, stating Kurashov demonstrated a lack of remorse throughout the legal proceedings.
Kurashov had joined a Russian military unit as part of a deal for early release from a penal colony. This practice of recruiting convicts for military service in Ukraine has been documented, with such units reportedly employing aggressive tactics on the frontline.
The event reflects broader allegations of war crimes, including claims of battlefield executions of prisoners of war, which Ukrainian officials say have been observed throughout the conflict. While both sides have faced accusations related to the treatment of captured soldiers, the scale of claims against Russian forces has been notably higher.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8vl4xz9jyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss