Explaining complex things in simple words: New ICC warrants, providing Ukraine with ammunition, heroic deed of Oleksandr Matsievskyi

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.  

NEW ICC WARRANTS

On March 5, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the commander of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation Viktor Sokolov and the commander of the Russian long-range aviation Sergey Kobylash

  • Russian military commanders Sokolov and Kobylash are suspected by the ICC of committing war crimes against Ukrainian civilians from October 10, 2022 to at least March 9, 2023.
  • The suspects are charged with attacking civilian targets, causing excessive accidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects, a crime against humanity in the form of inhuman acts.
  • Russian war criminals Sokolov and Kobylash are now wanted in 124 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. This includes Tajikistan and Armenia, which are members of Russian integration associations.
  • This is already the second major decision of the International Criminal Court in terms of the Russia-Ukraine war after it issued an arrest warrant for Putin and the so-called "child ombudsman" of the Russian Federation Lvova-Belova on March 17, 2023.
  • ICC warrants are a clear signal to all representatives and accomplices of the Putin regime that they will be held responsible for the crimes they committed.

PROVIDING UKRAINE WITH AMMUNITION

French President Emmanuel Macron supported the Czech initiative to supply 800,000 artillery shells to Ukraine from countries outside the EU.

  • In the spring of 2023, the European Union promised to send one million ammunitions to Ukraine, but failed to fulfil the obligations in the declared amount.
  • The problems with providing Ukraine with products of their own military industry encourage our allies to seek alternative options, namely, find the necessary ammunition beyond EU countries.
  • Back at the Munich Security Conference, President Petr Pavel said that Czechia had found up to 800,000 standard NATO-calibre projectiles, which it could send to Ukraine in a few weeks if it received financing for the delivery.

  • The Czech initiative had been previously supported by Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The latter two together will allocate €450 million for the purchase of ammunition.
  • Sufficient and timely supply of the Defence Forces of Ukraine with artillery ammunition makes it possible to restrain the enemy onslaught and protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

HEROIC DEED OF OLEKSANDR MATSIEVSKYI

A year ago, on March 6, 2023, a video was published in which a captured soldier of the 163rd battalion of the territorial defence forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Matsievskyi, shouts "Glory to Ukraine!" right before he is shot by the Russian invaders.

  • Oleksandr Matsievskyi died on December 30, 2022 during the battles for Soledar, and the circumstances of his death remained unknown for a long time.
  • The murderers of the prisoner recorded their crime on video and released this footage, hoping to motivate their henchmen and intimidate the Ukrainian defenders.
  • The unarmed Ukrainian soldier was not afraid of his executioners and met them by saying “Glory to Ukraine.” Matsievskyi's heroic deed earned him the title "Hero of Ukraine,” posthumously.
  • The crimes committed by the Russians have proven once again that they kill people in Ukraine for the very fact that they are Ukrainians, for their pro-Ukrainian views.
  • The execution of an unarmed prisoner by the Russians stirred a wave of condemnation not only in Ukraine, but also across the world. A picture of Matsievskyi before his execution and his words became widely known.
  • The war crime is being investigated both in Ukraine and at the international level.

  • Matsievskyi's murder is not an isolated incident. Russian invaders often shoot prisoners, which is documented. This is not about individual decisions, but about Russian government policies, for which its leadership will eventually be brought to justice.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security