Ukraine is holding its first war crimes trial since the war began on February 24

A 21-year-old Russian soldier is on trial pleading guilty to killing an unarmed civilian.

Vadim Shishimarin is now facing life in jail for killing the 62-year-old man only days after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The prisoner was escorted into the courtroom by heavily armed guards with the victim’s widow also present.

In court Shishimarin accepted his guilt before the judge.

The criminal was commanding a unit in a tank division when his group was attacked.

The 5 soldiers escaped by stealing a car and travelling to the nearby town of Chupakivka which is where they came across the civilian Oleksandr Shelipov.

Prosecutors allege that Shishimarin received orders to kill Shelipov shooting him in the head with a Kalashnikov assault rifle but the Kremlin has denied its involvement.

The trial was adjourned not long after the prisoner admitted his guilt with the hearing to resume on Thursday in a larger courtroom.

The BBC spoke with Shelipov’s widow she says she “feels very sorry” for the Russian soldier but assured that she could not forgive him for a crime like that.

Throughout the three months of war Ukraine has reported over 10,000 potential war crimes committed by Russia.

Ukraine’s chief prosecutor took to Twitter to say the trial is a “clear signal that every perpetrator, every person who ordered or assisted in the commission of crimes in Ukraine shall not avoid responsibility”.

Russia continues to reject that its troops ever targeted civilians.

The International Criminal Court is conducting their own investigation with 42 experts expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks.