ICC issues arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova over Ukrainian child deportations

On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, alleging responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The warrant against Putin is the first issued against the leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The ICC's investigation into the situation in Ukraine, opened in March 2022, covers alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed on Ukrainian territory since November 2013.