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First verdict for war crimes: Starts with life for private, but ends with Putin, says expert | Abroad | DR Today, a Russian soldier has been given life for the murder of a civilian Ukrainian. By A 21-year-old Russian soldier has today been found guilty of killing a 62-year-old Ukrainian man. It writes the news agency Reuters. Thus, the first verdict in Ukraine since the beginning of the war is a reality. Although I do not really believe in it, one can hope that Russian soldiers in the future will think twice before breaking the laws of war. Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl, Military Researcher The war crime took place in a village in northeastern Ukraine four days after Russia's invasion, but was decided in Kyiv, where the life sentence fell. Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl, a military researcher at the Defense Academy focusing on the laws of war, is not surprised , that the 21-year-old ended up with such a harsh sentence.- Murder is a violent crime, and I think it is a circumstance that it happens during military service, says Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl.He points out, among other things, that the soldier already on the first day of the trial pleaded guilty to the murder.- This case seems relatively bell-ready. The man himself has confessed, and there are recordings of the crime, says Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl. In his defense, the Russian soldier has told that he was to shoot the Ukrainian man by his superior. He also explained that the man was talking on the phone, and thus could warn Ukrainian soldiers about the position of the Russians. However, this is typically something that one is very careful to accept as a defense, the military researcher explains. one just acted on order. It may be a mitigating circumstance, but the court will be very reluctant to do so because they absolve the individual of responsibility, he says. In return, the testimony of the soldier can lead to a case against the superior who gave the order. And in that way, the cases of quiet will move upwards through the Russian ranks. - This will undoubtedly go all the way up to Putin. Maybe not just this particular case, but then one of the others. As commander-in-chief, he has a command responsibility. I do not for a moment doubt that it will end there, says Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl. But is it realistic that you can raise a case against Putin? - He is not punished now and here, but he is not president of time and eternity, and then you do not know what is happening. According to Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl, there are currently 11,000 cases committed in Ukraine. At the same time, one horrific report after another has come out about being committed during the war. Therefore, one may be tempted to ask whether the Ukrainians are the right people to investigate what has been committed against themselves, as has been the case with today's verdict. .- It is a whole question to raise, but Ukraine not only has a right to pursue this case, they also have one for it.- If one does not think they are able to pursue the cases according to the principles of a fair trial, then there are bodies such as the international Red Cross and NGOs, which one must assume follow the cases and shout guard at gunpoint if something does not go as it should.- So I think there are several things , which suggests that it is completely after the book, this.And although the conviction today may make the war crime snowball roll, Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl has a modest hope of what it will mean now and here.- Although I do not really believe in it, one can of course hope that Russian soldiers advance r will think twice before breaking the laws of war, he says.