They unfavorably compared this move to the International Criminal Court's legitimate warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes, highlighting that Putin's warrant is enforceable in 123 countries.
This latest development is part of a pattern of Moscow targeting Zelensky since the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. Zelensky has acknowledged the danger he faces, revealing that he has been aware of and thwarted "five or six" assassination attempts against him in the past year.
Russia has a history of putting foreign politicians and public figures on its wanted list. Besides Zelensky, the online database includes the commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko. Outside Ukraine, officials like Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and members of the previous Latvian parliament have also been targeted for actions deemed offensive to Russian interests or historical memory by Moscow.
This wanted notice comes amid reports of ongoing military activity in the region, including the downing of Russian drones in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, resulting in civilian injuries and a fire in an office building. The Russian defense ministry claims to have also shot down US-produced long-range missiles over Crimea, a disputed territory annexed by Russia.
The United States recently supplied Ukraine with long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have been used against Russian targets in Crimea. There are concerns from the Pentagon that these arms supplies might provoke an escalation in the conflict, potentially leading to direct confrontation between Russia and the United States.
In February, Moscow sought Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for what the Kremlin called the "desecration of historical memory" over the Baltic country's decision to destroy Soviet-era monuments.
Last year, the International Criminal Court ordered Putin's arrest on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children — accusations that Moscow rejected.