Ukraine conflict

Vadim Shishimarin admitted shooting a 62-year-old man a few days after the invasion began. He faces life in jail.

The prisoner was brought into the tiny Kyiv courtroom in handcuffs, flanked by heavily armed guards. He looked nervous, and kept his head bowed.

The widow of the man killed was sitting just a couple of metres from him.

She wiped tears from her eyes as the soldier entered court, then sat with hands clasped as the prosecutor set out his case, describing the moment Kateryna's husband, Oleksandr Shelipov, was shot in the head.

Recent protest campaigns on Facebook against the Russian invasion, from around the world, have included videos of people emptying bottles of Russian vodka.

The Samoa Observer reports Tupa'i started his campaign on Facebook this week when he posted a flyer titled "Say No To Russian Vodka".

Tupa'i - who owns Magic Circus of Samoa - is asking vodka drinkers to check the bottle before buying as a simple way to show support for the people of Ukraine.

Photo Facebook Tupa'i Bruno Loyale

"There is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine," Karim AA Khan, the ICC prosecutor has said.

"It is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my Office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine".

Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian representatives have concluded talks held in Belarus aimed at brokering peace amid the ongoing conflict.