A Russian court has sentenced two soldiers to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of a family of nine in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The victims, part of the Kapkanets family, were murdered in their home last year by Anton Sopov, 21, and Stanislav Rau, 28. Among the deceased were two young children, aged five and nine. The family was reportedly celebrating a birthday when the attack took place.
Prosecutors allege that the soldiers killed the family after they refused to surrender their home to the Russian troops. While the trial was conducted in secret for security reasons, it was reported that the two soldiers were convicted of murder motivated by political, racial, and ideological hatred.
The family’s death occurred in Volnovakha, a town that was captured by Russian forces early in the invasion. Ukraine has consistently accused Russia of war crimes, including the destruction of towns like Volnovakha, as well as widespread torture and killings in occupied territories. Despite mounting evidence, Russia continues to deny these allegations. The UN and the International Criminal Court have condemned the actions of Russian forces, with the latter issuing a warrant for President Vladimir Putin’s arrest.