War crimes in Ukraine

Sir, – The show trial, for that’s what it was, of a young Russian soldier for killing an unarmed civilian in the village of Chupakhiva will do nothing to retain and continue to build support for Ukraine (“Russian soldier sentenced to life in prison for killing unarmed civilian in Ukraine”, World, May 23rd).

Making a gratuitous example of a young soldier at the lowest ranks, who was most likely in a “shoot or be shot” bind by his superiors, subverts the stoicism of the Ukrainian military forces and the gallantry of the Ukrainian people and will only serve to provoke Putin into doing the same or worse with captured Ukrainian soldiers. The headlines and column inches given to the process of justice in this soldier’s conviction should more wisely be reserved for one of Putin’s generals who are the real miscreants and authors of the war crimes committed in Ukraine. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL GANNON,

(Colonel, retired),

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Kilkenny.