The International Criminal Court on
Friday announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on
the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
The Hague-based ICC said it had also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-
Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar
charges.
Moscow dismissed the orders as “void.” Russia is not a party to the ICC so it
was unclear if or how Putin could ever end up in the dock.
War-battered Ukraine welcomed the ICC announcement, with President Volodymyr
Zelensky hailing the “historic decision.”
The court’s shock notice came hours after other news with the potential to
significantly impact Russia’s war on Ukraine, including a Moscow visit from
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and more fighter jets for Kyiv’s forces.
More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the
February 24, 2022 invasion, according to Kyiv, with many allegedly placed in
institutions and foster homes.dhngkfdvk