Kremlin says ICC arrest warrants for military leaders absurd

MOSCOW, June 26: The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for ex-defence minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov as "absurd" and lacking legal force.

The Hague-based court said Tuesday it had issued arrest warrants for the pair over a barrage of Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian energy targets and civilian sites that the ICC said could be classed as "war crimes".

Russia is not a member of the ICC, but the arrest warrant mandates the more than 120 states that are to arrest Shoigu or Gerasimov if they set foot on their territory.    —AFP