Ukraine accuses Russian General Valery Gerasimov of war crimes

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor General, have accused Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, of war crimes. Investigators allege that Gerasimov issued orders for combined missile and air strikes targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the full-scale war.

Specifically, authorities claim Gerasimov personally commanded a massive Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of July 2, 2026. During this strike, Russian forces reportedly deployed approximately 570 weapons, including strike drones and hypersonic ‘Zircon’ and ballistic ‘Iskander-M’ missiles. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 30 to 31 people and injured over 100 individuals, with 70 requiring hospitalization. Significant damage was also reported to more than 20 residential buildings across various districts of the capital.

This development follows a June 2024 arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for Gerasimov and former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu regarding attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. While Ukrainian authorities are pursuing criminal accountability, Gerasimov remains within Russian territory.