On May 31, the Kotelevsky District Court of Poltava Region will impose a sentence on Alexander Bobikin and Alexander Ivanov, the Russian soldiers, for violating the laws and customs of war.
According to the investigation, they shelled the residential areas of Kharkiv, "Suspilne" informed. The charge is a violation of the laws or customs of war.
At today's hearing, the court heard Bobikin's last word. Ivanov renounced this right.
The prosecutor's office asked for 12 years in prison for both Russians - this is the maximum penalty under this article. An aggravating circumstance is the commission of crimes by a group of persons by prior conspiracy and in a dangerous manner.
Both soldiers agreed that they were guilty and confirmed the circumstances of the crimes.
"I cannot add anything, I'm really guilty," Bobikin said.
Lawyers for both asked for a reduced term of imprisonment because they "regreted" and "simply did the assignment."
According to the investigation, Ivanov shelled the Kharkiv region from the territory of Russia at around 5 am on February 24. The power substation, utilities and residential buildings were damaged. Ivanov was a gunner.
Both were detained on the territory of Ukraine after a convoy of their equipment was destroyed by the Armed Forces upon their arrival on our territory. The occupiers hid in the Kharkiv region and then surrendered to our defenders.
This week, the first Russian occupier to take part in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was sentenced. Vadim Shishimarin was found guilty of violating the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Punishment under this paragraph of the article is more severe, because the murder was committed.
On February 24, Shishimarin shot dead a civilian in the Sumy region.