UK Defence Secretary John Healey has made headlines by saying that if given the chance to kidnap a world leader, he would detain Russian President Vladimir Putin and hold him accountable for war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said this in an interview with The Kyiv Independent during a visit to a Kyiv residential area damaged by a Russian drone strike.
“I’d take Putin into custody, hold him account for these war crimes, hold him account for what I saw in Bucha on one of my first visits to Ukraine,” said John Healey.
Putin’s Child Abductions and Civilian Attacks
As a reason for holding Putin accountable, Healey pointed to Bucha, the Kyiv suburb where mass graves and civilian killings were uncovered following its liberation in 2022
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He also referenced the abduction of Ukrainian children, a crime that drew global condemnation and led to an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, from occupied territories to Russia.
Haeley also claimed that Putin targets civilians and not just war, since during the winter, Putin has attacked key energy facilities in Ukraine.
“It tells you all you need to know about President Putin and his determination not just to wage a war on Ukraine, but to target civilians, cities, the infrastructure that people absolutely critically depend on in the middle of winter.” said Haeley.
On Thursday night, Ukraine’s air force reported Russia attacked the country with a combination of 242 drones and 36 missiles.
Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was heavily targeted, and at least four people were killed and 24 others wounded.
“This is a man who must be stopped. This is a war that must be stopped. And our mission is to support Ukraine in its fight today and to help work to secure the peace for the moment,” added Haeley
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1,100 Russian Drones, Missiles Hit Civilian Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported severe conditions across multiple regions following intensified Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.
According to his shared X statement on January 11, he confirmed that attacks have disrupted electricity, heating, and water supplies during freezing winter temperatures.
Zelenskyy said energy workers and repair crews are working around the clock to restore essential services, describing their efforts as vital to maintaining civilian life.
“Energy workers and repair crews are working around the clock to restore electricity, heat, and water supply for people,” he said, adding that the scale of repairs reflects the pressure placed on communities by repeated strikes.
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