Lithuanian FM appeals to ICC over Russian attacks on Ukraine

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has called on prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take action over Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure.

In particular, Budrys has requested the issuance of new arrest warrants for Russian officials responsible for the attacks, Caliber.Az reports via Lithuanian media.

He also urged that additional international crimes, including the crime of genocide, be included in existing warrants.

In a letter to ICC prosecutors, the Lithuanian minister said the systematic strikes, aimed at leaving Ukrainians without electricity, heating, and water in the middle of winter, could only be seen as an intentional attempt to physically destroy Ukrainians as a group. 

“The deliberate attacks, designed to leave Ukraine’s population vulnerable in freezing conditions, cannot be interpreted in any other way than as an attempt to annihilate the group physically,” Budrys said.

The ICC is the principal international criminal justice body investigating crimes committed during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

In March 2023, the court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova. In 2024, warrants were issued for Russia’s former defence minister and senior military officials.

So far, ICC investigations based on the existing warrants have focused solely on war crimes and crimes against humanity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev