Dmitri Kurashov

Dmitri Kurashov, known by the call sign 'Stalker', is a Russian soldier currently on trial in Ukraine for war crimes, specifically for the execution of Vitalii Hodniuk, a 41-year-old Ukrainian soldier who was attempting to surrender. This trial marks a significant moment as it is the first of its kind in Ukraine, addressing allegations that Russian troops have executed numerous prisoners of war since the onset of the large-scale invasion. Kurashov has pleaded guilty in court after initially claiming innocence, and he is notable for being the first individual to face prosecution in Ukraine for such acts, amid a backdrop of increasing reports of battlefield executions by Russian forces.