According to the ICC press release, “there are reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects also bear responsibility for the crime against humanity” in their onslaught. The warrants are classified for security reasons to protect witnesses.
Kobylash, who is of Moldovan ethnicity and was born in Ukraine’s Odesa, commands the fleet of TU-95 and TU-160 strategic bombers that frequently launch missiles used to shell his former hometown.
Sokolov’s status is somewhat mysterious.
In September, Ukraine said it had killed him, but he has appeared in public several times since then, according to Russian state-owned news outlets. In February 2024, some pro-Russian military correspondents claimed Sokolov had been fired. However, he is still listed on Russia’s Ministry of Defense website as an active commander.
Denis Leven is hosted at POLITICO under the EU-funded EU4FreeMedia residency program.
