Arrest warrants issued for alleged war crimes by Putin's top general and ex-defence boss
- Warrants have been issued for the alleged war crimes committed by Putin's top general and ex-defence boss in Ukraine.
- The war crimes include directing attacks at civilian objects, causing harm to civilians, and committing inhumane acts.
- The warrants question Putin's nuclear doctrine and raise concerns about the actions of top Russian officials.
In recent developments, Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov has raised questions about Moscow's lack of retaliation to Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil with nuclear weapons. This comes amidst the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Russia's Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The warrants were issued for alleged war crimes related to directing attacks at civilian objects and causing excessive harm to civilians in Ukraine. The ICC stated that the suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes by Russian armed forces against Ukrainian electric infrastructure from October 2022 to March 2023. Furthermore, the ICC had previously issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, a move dismissed by Moscow as 'void'. In response, Russia issued its own warrant against the ICC's president. Ukraine's presidential chief of staff welcomed the ICC's decision to issue the arrest warrants, calling it significant. Putin, who has traveled to non-ICC member countries like Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, notably skipped a BRICS meeting in South Africa, where the warrant could have been executed. The recent reshuffle in Russia's military command saw Putin replacing Sergei Shoigu with economist Andrey Belousov, signaling a potential shift towards Putin taking a more direct role in war tactics. Russia's renewed aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities in March have led to significant power disruptions in Ukraine, with Kyiv estimating $16.1 billion in direct losses to the energy sector since the invasion. Additionally, a Russian millionaire has been arrested on fraud charges, sparking speculation about potential motives related to dissatisfaction with his company's missile system. As tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine, the ICC's actions and Russia's military strategies continue to draw international attention and scrutiny, with implications for the ongoing conflict and diplomatic relations in the region.