Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 388

The status as on Saturday, March 18, 2023 is as follows:

International Criminal Court

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleging that Moscow forcibly deported Ukrainian children to Russia. Russian officials have presented the deportation as a humanitarian operation to protect abandoned orphans and children in the conflict zone.
• The ICC also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the deportations constituted a policy of “state evil” and that the ICC warrant would provide “historic accountability” for crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine.
• The ICC arrest warrant obligates the court’s 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot on their territory.

diplomacy

• Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Russia next week for a state visit at Putin’s invitation.
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley spoke of their “unwavering support” for Ukraine during a call with their Ukrainian counterparts on Friday.
• The UN said it was making “every effort” to ensure that Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports with Russia continue to be allowed.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its executive board has authorized a change in rules that will allow the IMF to approve new loan programs for countries facing “extraordinarily high uncertainty”, leading to a new Ukraine loan. The program is expected to pave the way.
• Turkey’s parliament will begin ratifying Finland’s joining Nato, although it has held off on approving Sweden’s bid to join the defense bloc. Finland’s and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership were prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday praised Turkey’s decision and said he was confident Sweden would soon join.
• Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said she sees no threat of war in Moldova while Russia is fighting in Ukraine, despite what she says are Russian efforts to destabilize her country. “Russian forces cannot get here while Ukraine stays out… We are grateful to Ukrainians for their bravery and love of freedom,” she said.

fighting

• Ukrainian forces in the east of the country are facing Russian attacks on the now-destroyed city of Bakhmut, in what has become Europe’s bloodiest infantry battle since World War II. Russian forces have captured the eastern side of the city, but have so far failed to encircle Bakhmut and cut off Ukrainian forces’ supply lines.
• The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Russia launched 19 airstrikes and 26 rocket attacks against Bakhmut on Friday. The army said Russian forces also carried out four airstrikes on the frontline town of Avdeevka, south of Bakhmut.
• The United States has resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea region just days after Russian warplanes intercepted a US Reaper surveillance drone and engaged in actions that Washington said may have resulted in an unmanned aerial vehicle crash. Went.
• Prime Minister Eduard Heger said Slovakia has approved sending its fleet of 11 retired MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Slovakia is the second country to send warplanes to Kiev after being asked to do so by Poland.