A court in Ukraine sentenced Russian serviceman Dmitry Kurashov to life imprisonment for shooting a Ukrainian prisoner. The court decision was announced on November 6 in the Zavodsky District Court of Zaporizhzhia Region. The jury - Olga Pogrebnaya, Alla Zavinovskaya, and Ruslan Sinelnik - upheld Kurashov's actions as a serious crime for humanity and international military law, applying the highest measure of punishment.
The trial was covered by a DW correspondent. Prosecutor Nikita Manevsky requested a life sentence for Kurashov. "During the trial, the accused did not express any repentance or remorse. Indifference did not leave his face. This shows his attitude towards his actions," the prosecutor said.
Kurashov refused to speak in court. However, his lawyer Anna Karpenko defended her client, stating that she was "shocked" and "thought she was carrying out the order." According to him, Kurashov was not given instructions on how to treat the prisoners before the attack, but was ordered "not to take anyone prisoner." Therefore, the lawyer asked the court to mitigate the punishment.
According to the investigation, the 26-year-old Kurashov, nicknamed "Stalker," participated in the attack on Ukrainian positions in the Pologovsky district of the Zaporizhzhia region on January 6, 2024. At his hands, an unarmed, surrendering Ukrainian fighter - 41-year-old Vitaly G. - was killed. According to witnesses, Kurashov fired three shots at Vitaliy when he stood on his knees with his hands raised.
At the preliminary hearing, Kurashov admitted his guilt, but refused to testify. In an interview with journalists, he stated that he "confessed his guilt to expedite the trial." He even expressed hope for a prisoner exchange.
At the same time, the accused tried to blame another Russian soldier for the incident, putting forward the version that "the prisoner was shot by a paramedic." However, this was refuted by other Russian prisoners - Oleg Zamyatin, Konstantin Zelenin, and Dmitry Zuyev. One of them confirmed in court that he personally saw Kurashov shoot.
Ukrainian serviceman Alexander D. also testified in court. He reported that after the position was recaptured, he found the body of his deceased compatriot Vitaly G. along with five other fighters. "He was lying unarmed, probably killed by a bullet in the head," he said.
The court assessed Kurashov's actions as a gross violation of international humanitarian law. He was found guilty of "violating the rules and customs of war, that is, deliberately shooting a prisoner to death."
This is one of the most severe sentences imposed by Ukrainian courts on a Russian serviceman. The verdict has not yet entered into force - Kurashov has the right to appeal it within a month.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies emphasize that this case is an important signal for the international community - any war crime, even if committed at the front, will not go unpunished.
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