ICC Arrest Warrants: Russian Chiefs Accused of War Crimes

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russia's former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief of staff Gen Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity for attacks on Ukrainian civilians. The warrants target those responsible for missile strikes on Ukraine’s electric infrastructure from October 2022 to March 2023.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced Tuesday that it has issued arrest warrants for Russia's former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief of staff General Valery Gerasimov, charging them with war crimes for attacks against civilian targets in Ukraine.

The court accuses Shoigu and Gerasimov of inhumane acts, citing evidence that they "intentionally caused great suffering or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health of civilians in Ukraine." The judges' approval of the arrest warrants was based on missile strikes conducted by the Russian armed forces targeting Ukraine's electric infrastructure from October 10, 2022, to at least March 9, 2023.

During this period, numerous strikes against multiple electric power plants and substations in Ukraine were launched. The ICC indicated that these attacks were excessive and mainly targeted civilian objects. Although there is little chance that either suspect will be detained soon, this represents a significant move in the broader international response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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