"We hope to see them behind bars": Zelenskyy welcomes ICC decision to issue arrest warrants for Shoigu and Gerasimov

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian military officers – former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. They are accused of crimes against civilians in Ukraine during the Russian bombing of critical civilian infrastructure.

Zelenskyy emphasized that this decision of the ICC is a clear indication of the inevitability of justice for Russian crimes against Ukrainians. He wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

"I welcome today's arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against two key figures in the Russian military leadership.

Both are accused of committing heinous crimes against civilians in Ukraine during Russia's reckless bombardment of critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. These barbaric missile and drone strikes continue, killing people and causing damage across Ukraine.

Every criminal involved in the planning and execution of these strikes should know that justice will be served. And we hope to see them behind bars," the head of state wrote.

The President also emphasized that the decision of the International Criminal Court clearly shows that no military rank will help Russian criminals to get rid of responsibility.

"We are looking forward to further arrest warrants to deprive Russia of the feeling of impunity. A feeling that has fueled Russian crimes for decades. Accountability is the only way to put an end to them," Zelenskyy stated.

As a reminder, the ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. They are accused of striking civilian objects and civilians in Ukraine. Both military leaders of the Russian army are individually responsible for these war crimes committed by their subordinates.

The ICC arrest warrant means that all of these Russian military leaders, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Russian occupation army, dictator Putin, can be detained and brought to justice in 124 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. Ukraine has only signed it, but cannot ratify it during the war for certain reasons.

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