The decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for russia’s president vladimir putin is an important step towards holding him to account for crimes in the war against Ukraine.

This was stated by the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk.

‘The forced deportation of Ukrainian children to russia is one of numerous crimes committed by the aggressor state. And putin must be held personally accountable for them,’ Vasyl Maliuk underscored.

The SSU Head reminded that under procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the SSU is investigating over 31,000 criminal proceedings related to war crimes and other crimes committed by russia against international humanitarian law in Ukraine. Among them, the Service is investigating over 16,000 facts of illegal displacement of children.

‘SSU investigators work every day to ensure that not only perpetrators, but also the main 'organizer' of the crimes is punished. We are doing everything to show the world not just emotions, but a clear evidence base that will eventually bring putin to a well-deserved end - to an international tribunal,’ Vasyl Maliuk noted.

In addition, the SSU continues to investigate facts of russian strikes on critical and civilian infrastructure, including children’s hospitals and schools. Such attacks resulted in mass deaths and injuries of children in various regions of Ukraine.

The investigation into the facts of cruel treatment of prisoners of war and civilian hostages by russian invaders is also ongoing.

The SSU emphasizes the inevitability of punishment for crimes against Ukraine. Every criminal will be identified and brought to prosecution, regardless of where they are hiding from it.

Earlier, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan highly praised the SSU’s contribution to collecting evidence of war crimes committed by russia.