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- 鈥淭his decision is a clear indication that justice for Russian crimes against Ukrainians is inevitable,鈥� Zelensky said
- 鈥淓very criminal involved in the planning and execution of these strikes must know that justice will be served鈥�
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed a decision from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Russia鈥檚 chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, and former defense minister Sergei Shoigu.
The warrants 鈥� issued over strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure that constitute alleged war crimes 鈥� are the latest in a series of actions by the court over the Ukraine war, including an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
鈥淭hese barbaric missile and drone strikes continue to kill people and inflict damage across Ukraine,鈥� Zelensky said.
鈥淭his decision is a clear indication that justice for Russian crimes against Ukrainians is inevitable,鈥� he added.
鈥淓very criminal involved in the planning and execution of these strikes must know that justice will be served. And we do hope to see them behind bars,鈥� the Ukrainian leader wrote on social media.
The two men are accused of the war crimes of directing attacks at civilian objects and causing excessive incidental harm to civilians, as well as the crime against humanity of 鈥渋nhumane acts鈥� in Ukraine, the ICC said in a statement.
The Ukrainian presidency鈥檚 chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote that 鈥淪hoigu and Gerasimov bear individual responsibility鈥� for the strikes.
鈥淭his is an important decision. Everyone will be held accountable for evil,鈥� he said.
鈥淓very war criminal should be held accountable,鈥� said Ukraine鈥檚 human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.
The country鈥檚 prosecutor general鈥檚 office also welcomed the news in a statement.
鈥淭his is a new significant step toward full accountability for the aggressor,鈥� it said.