Investigation: Russian branch of Red Cross supports Kremlin’s war effort

The Russian branch of the International Red Cross (RRC) continues to support the Kremlin’s military machine while receiving millions in funding from democratic countries, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) reports, citing an investigation by European media outlets into the organization’s activities.

“Important report by several European media outlets on the Russian Red Cross’ direct involvement in Russia’s genocide against Ukraine, and the appalling complicity of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross,” the UCC said.

The investigation was conducted by German outlet Paper Trail Media, Austrian Der Standard, Estonian Delfi, Swedish Expressen, the international project Follow the Money, and Russian media outlet Meduza.

The research found that the RRC continues to operate in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine while receiving financial support from Russia. Journalists uncovered Kremlin internal documents that describe incidents in which individuals claiming to represent the RRC reportedly mistreated Ukrainian prisoners of war at a detention facility in occupied Donetsk.

Despite official claims of neutrality, the RRC reportedly supports Russian propaganda and participates in militaristic and “patriotic” events. The organization is closely linked to the “First Movement” that was established by Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin.

RRC units also co-organized the Russian military-patriotic “Zarnitsa 2.0” contest, which involved groups like Yunarmiya and the First Movement. 

During these events, children were taught to assemble weapons and operate drones. The RRC allocated a significant portion of its budget, about 8 percent of total spending, to fund the “First Aid” project specifically for these youth competitions that were held both in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories.

The Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) investigated the allegations against the RRC and concluded the organization was not guilty of any violations. As a result, the RRC continues to receive funding. Moreover, the head of the RRC still serves on the Governing Board of the International Federation, the supervisory body that is supposed to oversee allegations against the organization itself.

The ICRC says that the Russian Red Cross adheres to a principle of “practical neutrality” and that its branches do not operate in occupied Ukrainian territories. However, evidence shows otherwise: organizations have emerged in these territories under the names “Donetsk Red Cross,” “Luhansk Red Cross,” and “Zaporizhzhia Red Cross.”

Despite findings, the RRC continues to receive international funding, and the amounts it now receives reportedly exceed the levels of support it received before the war, according to the investigation.