In court on Thursday, a Russian soldier accused of war crimes in Kyiv said his acts were “wrong” and that he was forced to shoot an unarmed civilian by a higher-up.

In the first war crimes trial since the conflict began, Sgt. Vadim Shyshimarin, 21, pleaded guilty to killing the civilian. He told the court from his glass booth on Thursday that he was aware that he was invading another country when he entered into Ukraine with his unit, but that he was unfamiliar with international acts on war customs.
In court, he apologised to the victim’s wife, who also spoke. “I realise you won’t be able to forgive me,” he admitted.