Volodymyr Zelensky wanted! Russia puts Ukrainian President, Estonian PM on 'criminal' list amid war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was tagged a wanted criminal in Russia as war hit the 800 day mark on Saturday. Moscow indicated that the actor-turned-politician was being sought on unspecified criminal charges alongside his predecessor Petro Poroshenko. Zelensky joins several top European Union and NATO leaders including Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. 

The Russian interior ministry database provided limited information on the matter — merely insisting that the Ukrainian leader was wanted “under an article of the criminal code”. Independent Russian news outlet Mediazona however claimed that Zelenskyy and Poroshenko had been named since at least late February. The updated list also includes General Oleksandr Pavlyuk — the commander of Ukraine's ground forces.

Meanwhile Ukraine's foreign ministry said the decision demonstrated "the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which are at a loss for what else to invent to garner attention".

“We would like to remind everyone that, unlike the worthless Russian announcements, the International Criminal Court's warrant for the arrest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges is real and enforceable in 123 countries.,” added a statement from the Ukrainian MFA.

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Russia's wanted list includes scores of officials and lawmakers from Ukraine and NATO countries — including Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Cabinet ministers from Estonia and Lithuania, as well as the International Criminal Court prosecutor who last year prepared a warrant for President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges also find mention.

Kallas has fiercely advocated for increased military aid to Kyiv and stronger sanctions against Moscow since the war began. Earlier in February, Russian officials said that she was wanted because of Tallinn’s efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments to Red Army soldiers in the Baltic nation, in a belated purge of what many consider symbols of past oppression.

(With inputs from agencies)