INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A Ukrainian court on Friday reduced to 15 years a life sentence handed down to a Russian soldier for pre-meditated murder in the country's
first war crimes trial.Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was sentenced to life in prison in May after being found guilty of fatally shooting a
62-year-old civilian in northeastern Ukraine in the early days of the war
His lawyer had vowed to appeal the verdict, arguing that "societal pressure" had influenced the verdict."According to the result of the
appellate review, the appeal filed by the defense was partially satisfied," a statement on the Kyiv court of appeals' website said
claimed he shot Ukrainian civilian Oleksandr Shelipov under pressure from another soldier as they tried to retreat and escape back into
attacks military infrastructure in Ukraine.AFP contributed reporting.
