The name of International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Sergio Gerarde Ugaldo Godinez was added to Russia’s wanted list on Wednesday (8/11/2023).
Godinez became a wanted figure for issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine.
“Wanted for criminal investigation,” said a notice in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs database, quoted from the AFP news agency.
Godinez is a judge from Costa Rica at the ICC based in The Hague, Netherlands.
However, the notice did not specify the charges against Godinez.
In March 2023, the ICC announced the arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes, namely the deportation of Ukrainian children unlawfully.
The ICC also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges.
Russia, not a member of the ICC, asserted that the arrest warrant for Putin is not valid.
However, the letter restricted Putin’s travel abroad because ICC member countries must arrest him if he sets foot there.
Putin then did not attend the BRICS Summit in August and the G20 Summit in India the following month, citing a desire not to create problems for his friends.
Russia had previously issued arrest warrants for ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and several other judges.
In September, Moscow sought the arrest of ICC President Piotr Hofmanski.
In the same month, the ICC opened a field office in Ukraine to hold Russia accountable for attacks in the Western-backed country.
Russia-Ukraine War Day 623 Update
Here is the update on the Russia-Ukraine war on day 622 on Wednesday (8/11/2023).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has deployed more Western air defense systems in preparation for Russia’s intense attacks on key energy infrastructure during winter when temperatures drop below freezing.
“Additional NASAMS systems from partners have been placed on combat duty,” said Zelensky on Tuesday (7/11/2023).
“Our air defense reinforcement is timely before winter,” he added.
6 Killed in Ukrainian Shooting in Donetsk
Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in Ukraine, said the shooting by Ukrainian forces killed six people and injured 11 others in the city of Donetsk.
Ukraine Repels 15 Attacks in Kupiansk
In its report on Tuesday night (7/11/2023), the Ukrainian General Staff said its forces had repelled 15 attacks near Kupiansk in the northeast and 18 attacks near Maryinka.
Nine attacks were successfully thwarted in and near Avdiivka, where Russia launched its latest attacks in mid-October.
Russia Destroys 17 Ukrainian Drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense said its air defense system destroyed and intercepted a total of 17 drones launched by Ukraine in the Black Sea and Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not mention any casualties.
Ukraine Ready to Face New Russian Attack in Avdiivka
Vitaly Barabash, the head of the military administration of Avdiivka, said Ukraine is prepared to face a new Russian attack in the city of Avdiivka in the east, located just 10 km from Donetsk.
“The third wave is definitely going to happen. The enemy is regrouping after the second wave of failed attacks,” Barabash said.
Russia Jails 4 Ukrainian Soldiers in Mariupol
A Moscow-established court in eastern Ukraine, occupied by Russia, sentenced four other Ukrainian soldiers captured in the 2022 battles in Mariupol to lengthy prison terms.
According to international law, soldiers cannot be prosecuted for fighting for their country.
