Russia-Ukraine War: List of Key Events, Day 388

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 388th day, we take a look at the main events.

This is the situation as it stands on Saturday, March 18, 2023:

International Criminal Court

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleging that Moscow forcibly deported Ukrainian children to Russia. Russian authorities have presented the deportations as a humanitarian campaign to protect orphans and abandoned children in the conflict zone.
• The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the deportations constituted a policy of “state wrongdoing” and that the ICC order would provide “historical responsibility” for crimes committed against Ukraine by Russia.
• the ICC mandatory arrest warrant the 123 member states of the court to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he steps foot on their territory.

Diplomacy

• chinese president Xi Jinping will travel to Russia next week for a state visit after an invitation from Putin.
• US Secretary of Defense 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 United Nations said it was “doing everything possible” to ensure that an agreement with Russia that allows the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports continues.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its executive board has authorized rule changes that would allow it to approve new lending programs for countries facing “exceptionally high uncertainty,” which is expected to pave the way for a new lending program for Ukraine.
• Turkey’s parliament will start ratifying Finland’s accession to NATO, although it has been slow to approve Sweden’s offer 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 praised Turkey’s decision on Friday, saying he was confident Sweden would join soon as well.
• Moldovan President Maia Sandu said she does not see danger of war in Moldova while Russia is fighting in Ukraine, despite what he said are Russian efforts to destabilize his country. “The Russian army cannot get here as long as Ukraine holds on… We are grateful to the Ukrainians for their courage and love of freedom,” she said.

Struggle

• Ukrainian forces in the east of the country. keep bearing The Russian assaults on the now destroyed city of Bakhmut, which has become the bloodiest infantry battle in Europe since World War II. Russian forces have captured the eastern part of the city, but have so far failed to encircle Bakhmut and cut Ukrainian troop supply lines.
• The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Russia carried out 19 airstrikes and 26 rocket attacks on Bakhmut on Friday. Russian forces also carried out four airstrikes on the frontline town of Avdiivka, south of Bakhmut, the army said.
• The United States resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea region just days after Russian warplanes intercepted a US Reaper surveillance drone and engaged in actions Washington says caused the drone crash.
• Prime Minister Eduard Heger said that Slovakia has approved sending its fleet of 11 retired MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Slovakia is the second country to send fighter jets to kyiv after Poland said it would do it