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Russia reports downing 30 Ukrainian drones

by VOA News

   The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for former
   Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the Russian
   military's general staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov.

   The ICC said Tuesday there are "reasonable grounds to believe that the
   two suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the
   Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure"
   between October 2022 and March 2023.

   The court cited Russian strikes that hit Ukrainian power plants and
   substations.

   An ICC statement said Shoigu and Gerasimov are alleged to be
   responsible for directing attacks at civilian targets and causing
   excessive harm to civilians, both of which are war crimes.

   Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced Shoigu as defense chief in
   May as part of a cabinet shakeup as Putin began a new presidential
   term.

   Russian officials said Monday that Ukraine used 30 drones in overnight
   attacks on two areas near the border between the two countries.

   Russia's defense ministry said it shot down 29 drones over the Belgorod
   region and one more over Voronezh.

   Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Belgorod, said falling
   debris from downed drones injured several people and damaged buildings.

   Belgorod is a frequent target for Ukrainian aerial attacks with its
   location just across the border and proximity to Ukraine's Kharkiv
   region, where Russian forces have gained ground in an offensive in
   recent months.

   In Voronezh, Governor Aleksandr Gusev reported a fire at an industrial
   site caused by a downed drone. Gusev said there were no injuries.

   Some information for this story was provided by Reuters.

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