Ukraine-Russia war latest: Arrest warrants for Russian officials as Putin’s aide warns of ‘fatal’ consequences

Warrants come as Russia has again stepped up its long-range assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Zelensky says China trying to undermine Ukraine peace summit

Russia’s former defence minister and a leading general have been slapped with arrest warrants over attacks on civilian targets amounting to war crimes in Ukraine by a top international court.

Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister, and General Valery Gerasimov are suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity for directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Ukraine, The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) said.

Judges had found 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 ICC said.

Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff applauded the ICC’s move, saying it was “an important decision”. Russia, which is not a member of the court, has denied targeting civilians.

This comes as Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow’s arms control point person, warned that if the West underestimated the resolve of Russia – a major nuclear power – it could lead to “tragic and fatal” consequences.

Key points

• ICC issues arrest warrants for two senior Russian officials
• Russian official warns of ‘tragic and fatal’ consequences
• Russian pressure heats up on frontline as Western aid trickles in
• Zelensky replaces top military commander after public rebuke
• Ukraine starts EU accession talks

[25 June 2024 11:10 · Tom Watling]

First ammunition shipment from Czech initiative arrived in Ukraine, says PM

The first shipment of ammunition from a Czech initiative has arrived in Ukraine, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday.

The Czech Republic has led an effort to buy ammunition, with funding from NATO allies, to make up for shortage on the frontlines with Russia.

“The first shipment of ammunition from our initiative arrived in Ukraine some time ago,” Fiala said on X. “We are doing what it takes.”

The Czechs said in May that the first 50,000 to 100,000 artillery shells would reach Ukraine in June.

They said they so far had around 1.7 billion euros in payments or firm commitments from 15 donor countries, which was enough for half a million artillery rounds to be delivered to Ukraine by the end of the year.

About 20 countries have pledged to take part in the Czech initiative, but only five had delivered payments by the end of May: Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Canada.

[25 June 2024 10:45 · Tom Watling]

A look at Ukraine’s underground schools

The head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s party has posted images of the country’s first underground school as the nation looks to ensure children can still partake of in-person education without the interruption of Russian missile attacks.

Olena Shuliak, head of the Servant of the People political party, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that a second underground school is under construction in Zaporizhzhia. The first, in Kharkiv, is already operational.

“Missiles reach these regions faster than air raid alerts,” she wrote. “But children will have an opportunity to study in safety no matter what. And everyone should have this opportunity.”

[25 June 2024 10:30 · Tom Watling]

More Americans are ending up in Russian jails. Prospects for their release are unclear