Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded the Order of Courage to Army General Valery Gerasimov, the overall commander of Russia's war in Ukraine, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The decree, published on Russia's official legal acts website on Monday, cited Gerasimov's 'courage, bravery and dedication displayed in the fulfilment of military duty.' Gerasimov turned 70 on the same day.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Gerasimov and former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in June last year, accusing them of directing attacks against civilian objects and causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects in Ukraine. The ICC also alleged they were responsible for missile strikes against Ukraine's electric infrastructure between October 2022 and March 2023. Russia, which is not a party to the ICC, has denied targeting civilians and maintains that electrical infrastructure is a legitimate military target.
In related developments, the EU's sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan held talks in Washington with US officials on Monday, as both sides seek tougher measures against Russia following its largest-ever air attack on Ukraine over the weekend. European Council President António Costa said transatlantic cooperation on sanctions remained strong.
Germany and France are pushing to blacklist Russian oil giant Lukoil and its trading subsidiary Litasco as part of a new EU sanctions package, diplomats said. The two countries are also pressing to target refineries in third countries that export Russian oil to the EU and trading firms dealing with Russian oil.
Meanwhile, a Russian Iskander ballistic missile damaged a Ukrainian government building in Kyiv over the weekend, marking the first such attack on the capital. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova noted that the building was spared total destruction because the missile failed to fully detonate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff discussed the attack with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday.
In the occupied Donetsk region, Russia-installed head Denis Pushilin claimed that Ukrainian drone and missile attacks killed two people and injured 16 in Donetsk city and Makiivka. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the claims.
