ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin, Russia’s Bakhmut offensives ‘lowest since January’
Key Developments on March 17:
As Russia’s crimes against Ukraine become more visible, on March 17, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued Arrest warrants issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The statement said: “Vladimir Putin, born October 7, 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
This decision means that Putin and Lvova-Belova can now be arrested in countries that have ratified it Roman Statute.
According to the statement by the International Criminal Court, as the leader of Russia, Putin bears “individual criminal responsibility” for the crimes committed against Ukrainian children.
Russia reportedly has deported nearly 2,000 children from Ukraine since January 1, according to US Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter.
In addition, more than 16,000 children have been forcibly displaced from Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to the National Information Bureau wrote.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, even from a legal point of view,” said independent Russian media outlet Meduza reported.
17 MiGs
After the news on March 16 that Poland will deliver the first four MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming days, the Slovak government has agreed to the delivery of 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.
“Promises must be kept and when (President Volodymyr) asked Zelensky for more weapons, including fighter jets, I said we will do our best called on March 17th.
In addition to jets, Slovakia will also send “part of the Kub air defense system,” Heger said at a press conference quoted by Slovakian media company Aktuality.
At the same time, Ukraine’s allies have so far refused to provide Western aircraft such as the American-made F-16.
In addition, on March 16, the White House stated that Poland’s recent pledge to provide MiG-29s will not influence the US to send F-16s.
“It doesn’t change our calculus regarding F-16s,” said John Kirby, communications coordinator for the US National Security Council, as quoted by CNN.
March 16, Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported that Belgium will hand over 240 Volvo military trucks to Ukraine, with the first batch due to be shipped as early as next week.
The trucks are used to transport troops and equipment to the eastern front line.
Meanwhile, the European Union will provide 1.5 billion euros ($1.59 billion) to Ukraine as the second tranche of a 18 billion euros ($19 billion) macro-financial assistance package, the European Vice-President said Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis called on March 17th.
Payment should be made next week.
Russian attacks
Russian attacks have been reported in eight Ukrainian regions in the past 24 hours.
According to local authorities, two people were killed and nine injured.
Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported in its morning update of March 17 that two civilians were killed and eight injured in Donetsk Oblast.
Russia hit 13 settlements and three municipalities in the region and damaged nearly 30 houses, five skyscrapers, a school, a business and a penitentiary, Kyrylenko said.
Kherson Oblast was hit 76 times, with Russia firing 413 projectiles at the oblast’s settlements Military Administration of the Kherson region.
The attacks reportedly injured one and damaged a medical facility, houses and apartment buildings in the city of Kherson.
According to the governor of the Kharkiv region Oleh SyniehubovRussian troops hit Kupyansk, Chuhuiv and Kharkiv and damaged houses and outbuildings.
Russian forces also shelled Zaporizhia, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Luhansk oblasts, causing damage to civilian infrastructure and households. No casualties were reported in these regions.