Russian Soldiers Sentenced to Life for Massacre in Ukraine

Two Russian soldiers were convicted of murdering a family of nine in occupied Ukraine, marking a rare accountability for alleged war crimes.

Anton Sopov and Stanislav Rau were sentenced by a Russian court for killing the Kapkanets family in Volnovakha, Donetsk region.
The massacre, which included children aged five and nine, occurred during a birthday celebration in October last year.
Ukrainian officials allege the family was murdered for refusing to vacate their home for Russian troops.
The trial was held behind closed doors, and details remain sparse, with motivations cited as politically or ideologically driven.
This case is one of the few instances of Russia acknowledging crimes by its troops in Ukraine amid widespread allegations of atrocities.