In a historic ruling, a Ukrainian court has sentenced Russian soldier Dmitry Kurashov, 27, to life in prison for the execution-style killing of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The verdict, delivered in Zaporizhzhia, marks the first time Ukraine has handed down a life sentence to a Russian combatant for battlefield crimes committed during the ongoing war.
Kurashov was found guilty of fatally shooting 41-year-old Vitalii Hodniuk, a veteran Ukrainian soldier who had surrendered unarmed during a Russian assault in January 2024. Prosecutors presented video evidence, witness testimony, and forensic reports confirming that Kurashov acted on direct orders from his commanders, who had allegedly instructed troops not to take Ukrainian soldiers captive.
Although Kurashov initially pleaded guilty, he later retracted his confession, claiming a fellow Russian medic—who later died—was responsible. However, testimony from other captured Russian soldiers contradicted his account, placing Kurashov alone at the scene of the shooting.
Lead prosecutor Mykyta Manevskyi described the crime as “one of the most serious” and emphasized its symbolic weight for Ukraine, where hundreds of similar cases remain under investigation. “Such cases should not remain without consideration and an appropriate sentence,” he stated.
Kurashov had joined Russia’s Storm V penal assault unit in exchange for early release from a prison sentence for theft. These units, composed of convicts, have been deployed in high-risk operations on the front lines, often suffering heavy casualties.
The ruling comes amid mounting evidence of systematic abuses by Russian forces. Ukraine’s prosecutor general is investigating over 320 alleged executions of surrendered Ukrainian servicemen since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. A UN report earlier this year documented widespread torture and mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs, raising serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.
Kurashov declined to testify and offered no final statement in court. His lawyer had argued for a reduced sentence, citing obedience to orders, but the court upheld the prosecution’s demand for life imprisonment.
This unprecedented verdict signals Ukraine’s intent to hold individual perpetrators accountable and may set a precedent for future war crimes trials.
The London Christian Radio
