This article from the BBC discusses the trial of a Russian soldier, Dmitry Kurashov, who is accused of war crimes in Ukraine. Kurashov was part of an assault on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and is alleged to have killed a medic, Sedoy, during the battle.
The article highlights some of the challenges of prosecuting war crimes, particularly when it comes to witnesses. The professor of international law at the Open University of the Netherlands, Sergey Vasiliev, notes that prisoners of war (POWs) are often vulnerable and may have incentives to lie or cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for better treatment.
Kurashov maintains his story about Sedoy’s death, but his lawyer says he pleaded guilty because he believed it would lead to a faster trial and potentially an earlier return to Russia. However, if Kurashov is found guilty, he will no longer be considered a POW and will instead face a prison sentence in Ukraine.
The article also discusses the larger context of war crimes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The head of Ukraine’s war crimes department, Yuriy Belousov, says that his office is working to bring cases against higher-level Russian commanders, and has gathered evidence of orders to kill prisoners, which is similar to Kurashov’s case.
The article also mentions a quote from Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, who called for “total executions” of Ukrainian servicemen on social media last July. This quote highlights the broader context of war crimes in the conflict and the need for accountability.
Finally, the article notes that Kurashov faces up to life in prison if found guilty, while Vitalii Hodniuk, a Ukrainian soldier who died during the battle, was unable to return home because his body was not recovered until two months later.
