Russian Red Cross supports war against Ukraine, ombudsman calls for investigation

According to Lubinets, the president of the Russian Red Cross is affiliated with a pro-Putin "patriotic" organization. Among other things, the society's employees talk about the impossibility of peace with the "Nazis" and participate in military training camps and exercises for children, where they spread the ideology of continuing the war.

According to the ombudsman, it is likely that Russia is planning to set up new Russian Red Cross organizations in the temporarily occupied territories, which will be funded by the terrorist country itself.

Lubinets, for his part, sent a letter to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent calling for:

• a public condemnation of the actions of the RRC;
• a transparent investigation;
• suspension of the RRC's membership and participation in the community for the duration of the investigation;
• expulsion of the RRC from the federation if its illegal actions are confirmed.

"Let me remind you that the RRC is a part of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, so it must comply with the mission and principles of the movement. In particular, the principle of "neutrality," Lubinets says.

Russian Red Cross

It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Russian Red Cross has been suspected of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. Back in February 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed sanctions on the RCF for facilitating the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Also in 2022, Lubinets called for the expulsion of the RRC from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement because of a fundraiser the organization announced to support the families of mobilized Russian occupiers.