Ukrainians are infuriated that the Russian Red Cross was seen accepting money, clothes, and military drone donations for Russia’s war machine. The Russian Red Cross office in Kamchatka openly collects supplies for the Russian army.
Kamchatka Red Cross accepts donations to Russian army
Despite claiming on its website that it does not collect military aid or equipment with dual purposes, at least one of the Russian Red Cross’s centers openly engages in this activity.
On behalf of the Russian #WeTogether initiative, which has as one of its goals supporting the Russian army, the Kamchatka Red Cross website reveals that it accepts donations for military personnel and their families. United Russia, a party led by major Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev, is their partner in this effort.
Australian Red Cross launched an investigation
The Russian Red Cross was captured accepting donations of balaclavas, uniforms, and drones for that nation’s army, prompting the Australian Red Cross to launch an investigation, The Herald Sun reported.
In Australia, Ukrainian community activists are urging the Australian Red Cross to condemn the Russian branch for supporting Putin’s deadly war against Ukraine. They also call the International Red Cross to expel the Russian unit from the Organization.
One of the main principles of the Red Cross organization, neutrality in wars and armed conflicts, is said to have been broken by the Russian office’s acts, which also include receiving money for the armed forces.
Ukrainian activist recorded a call with Russian Red Cross on military donations
The Russian Red Cross official in Kamchatka stated that citizens could support the soldiers by delivering supplies to the group’s office in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during contact with Anton Bogdanovych, a Ukrainian community protest organizer in Sydney.
To determine whether the Russian Red Cross would be open to accepting donations for the military, Mr. Bogdanovych made contact. During the call, the Russian official described the Red Cross office as a “joint facility where donations are taken, collected, and put together.”
Anton requests permission to bring drones and military gear to the Red Cross headquarters. “Yes, please bring it to their office at Leningradskaya Str., 72, which is a consolidated donation center” from many agencies, the Russian Red Cross employee responds.
The Red Cross does good work, such as collecting blood and aiding those affected by the recent floods in Australia, according to Mr. Bogdanovych. Still, Ukrainian community activists were upset that it had yet to take action despite bringing up their concerns with the Organization more than two months ago.
Russian Red Cross should be expelled from the ICRC – Bogdanovych
He argued that the Russian Red Cross should be expelled from the ICRC and IFRC by the Australian Organization and other national Red Cross organizations. He rejected assumptions that taking action against the Russian movement was impossible because of the Red Cross’ complex international structure.
To give humanitarian relief to those in need on both sides of the front, the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has rigorously kept its neutrality in wars for more than 150 years.
The Russian Red Cross Society’s ties to the Russian government, which prompted it to gather supplies for the Russian army, including military essentials for underequipped troops and drones used to correct artillery firing against Ukrainian soldiers, have destroyed this principle.
The Red Cross participates in the Russian pro-war movement
When the national office of the humanitarian group the Russian Red Cross launched a fundraising campaign in October to provide mobilized soldiers and their families with humanitarian and psychological support, those were the first signs of trouble for the Russian Red Cross. This action borders on being non-neutral and, by enhancing the welfare of those at home, is probably hostile to any emerging anti-war movement among the mothers of troops.
The fact that the Russian Red Cross events are a part of the country’s MyVmeste (Russian for “We are together”) campaign makes them even more biased.
Red Cross link to initiative statrted by Putin
This home front initiative, started by Russian dictator Putin, supports Russian troops by, among other things, sending them food, military supplies, and children’s letters. It also collects portable heaters so the Russian invaders can more easily withstand the chilly winter in Ukraine; teaches schoolchildren to assemble military drones that can correct Russian artillery fire in the war. They also send Russian soldiers illustrations by Russian children wishing them success.
Despite allegations to the contrary, the Russian Red Cross accepts financial donations through the MyVmeste platform, financially and politically backing all efforts made by MyVmeste to assist the Russian army. The Ukrainian branch of the Red Cross advocated for these activities and urged its international counterparts to “take strict measures for prevention of such acts” by the Russian Red Cross.
Ukrainian Red Cross: It’s a grave breach to the neutrality principle
The Russian Red Cross’ “serious violation of the concept of neutrality,” according to the Ukrainian Red Cross headquarters, has raised questions about its credentials.
According to the concept of neutrality, no Movement member of the Organization at large should ever choose a side in an armed conflict or be seen as picking a side. The Movement’s impartiality aids in persuading the parties to the war that helping civilians and fighters injured or in prison does not interfere in the conflict. Even if you are unfamiliar with the principles of our Movement, it is clear that the neutrality principle has been violated, the Ukrainian Office told EuromaidanPress.
We now look forward to the International Red Cross conducting a prompt and thorough inquiry and making a solid decision regarding the Russian Red Cross’ flagrant neutrality violation.
