ICC issues arrest warrants for Russian ex-defence minister, military chief, Kyiv calls it 'important decision'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday (June 25) said it has issued arrest warrants for Russia's former defence minister and military chief over alleged crimes during Russia's war against Ukraine.

The arrest warrants for the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu were issued on Monday but were made public on Tuesday.

Both Shoigu and Gerasimov were accused of having committed war crimes for directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects and crimes against humanity over "inhumane acts" during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the ICC said in astatement.

ICC judges said there were "reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023."

The court stated that the Russian air offensive was "directed against civilian objects" and even if the targets the strikes were aimed at were military, the civilian damage "would have been clearly excessive to the anticipated military advantage."

Ukraine hails decision

Ukraine hailing the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) called it an "important decision".

"Shoigu and Gerasimov bear individual responsibility. This is an important decision. Everyone will be held accountable for evil," the presidency's chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.

'ICC warrant for ex-minister Shoigu insignificant,' says Russia

Russia's security council condemning the ICC decision, calling it "insignificant".

"The decision by the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court over the secretary of the security council, Sergei Shoigu, is insignificant," the council's press service said, the TASS news agency reported.

"It's all hot air since the ICC's jurisdiction does not cover Russia" and the decision was taken "as part of the West's hybrid war against our country", the press service said.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin removed Shoigu from his post as defence minister and appointed him as Secretary of Russia's powerful Security Council.

Andrei Belousov took over Shoigu's position as the defence minister.

(With inputs from agencies)