The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister, and leading Russian general Valery Gerasimov, for alleged crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The background: The Hague-based court said Shoigu and Gerasimov were suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity for directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Ukraine.
The court's move was welcomed by Kyiv but dismissed as legally meaningless by Moscow.
The key quote: "Every 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." — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
What else to know: Eight arrest warrants have now been issued against senior Russian suspects (including Russian President Vladimir Putin) since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
What happens next: Since the ICC has no police force of its own and relies on member states to make arrests, it is unclear if any of the Russian suspects will ever stand trial.
Read more: World leaders have branded Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal'. What does this mean?
