The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for Russia鈥檚 former defense minister and its military chief of staff for attacking civilian targets in Ukraine.
The court is accusing former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov of war crimes and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts.
The court said in a statement that warrants were issued because judges considered there were reasonable grounds to believe that the men are responsible for 鈥渕issile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure鈥� from Oct. 10, 2022 until at least March 9, 2023.
鈥淒uring this time-frame, a large number of strikes against numerous electric power plants and sub-stations were carried out by the Russian armed forces in multiple locations in Ukraine,鈥� the court added.
There is no immediate likelihood of either suspect 小蓝视频 detained. Russia isn鈥檛 a member of the global court, doesn鈥檛 recognize its jurisdiction and refuses to hand over suspects.
Last year, the court also issued a warrant for Russian President , accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
Putin as defense minister in a Cabinet shakeup in May as he began his fifth term as president. He appointed Shoigu as secretary of Russia鈥檚 Security Council, the Kremlin said.
Michael Corder, The Associated Press
