A Russian war criminal has called Vladimir Putin's war "a mistake" and said he "wished the bloody conflict would end."
Alexander Bobykin, 26, said "Putin should stop the war now" and branded it a failure after admitting to violating the laws and customs of war in Ukraine.
He and fellow fighter Alexander Ivanov, 21, were in an artillery unit that shot at least 38 missiles at civilians and blasted a school in the early stages of the invasion.
The pair pleaded guilty last week to “violating the laws and customs of war” with the judge commenting that their guilt had "been proven in full.”
Both men were handed a 12 year prison sentence at Kotelevska District Court in Poltava on Tuesday, The Sun reports.
Bobykin told the publication that Putin's war was a "failure" and how it had all been a mistake before being led away to his cell.
He insisted that he regretted his actions and even wanted to defect and join Ukrainian forces before being placed back in handcuffs and led away with his co-defendant Ivanov.
"I want to change to the Ukraine military," he said in a surreal exchange.
“Putin should stop the war now. It is a mistake. The war is a failure.
“I’m satisfied with my conditions in prison. My family know I am here. I have changed my mind about what I did. My verdict is true.”
During the hearing, Bobykin and Ivanov sat blank faced behind bulletproof glass as the judge gave his verdict.
The pair were captured after crossing the border thanks to a specialist police investigation.
They were described as an artillery driver and a gunner whose unit had shot Grad missiles from Belgorod in Russia.
A school in the town of Derhachi was destroyed by the shelling but no casualties were reported, according to prosecutors.
When asked if Putin had been a failure, Bobykin replied "yes.”
Bobykin and Ivanov remained silent during the one hour hearing before the judge, legal officials and members of the Kharkiv prosecution service.
They were monitored closely by armed police officers after pleading guilty last week to violating the laws and customs of war.
Outlining the case, Judge Evhen Bolybok told the court that a platoon from their unit's first artillery battery was told to " fire " at around 5pm on February 2.
The first fire platoon was based near the village of Malinovka in Belgorod where the battery commander gave the order.
“Upon receipt of this command, the commander, aware of consequences in the form of warfare prohibited by international law, other violations of laws and customs of war, returned a special key and pressed the button to open fire with BM21 ‘Hail’, covered by Bobykin’s criminal intent," the judge said.
A "volley" of 38 rockets were then fired as a result of these actions, he added.
Following orders, Bobykins then left his firing position and arrived near Malinovka 20 minutes later where the commander "charged BM21 'Hail' rockets," it was said.
The judge also told the court that he beleived the guilt of Bobykin and Ivanov had been "proven in full.”
Kharkiv authorities welcomed the convictions was two of more than 1,000 war crimes under their investigation as well as 14,000 cases countrywide.
