Russian Red Cross Trains Children in Military Skills in Ukraine

• The Russian Red Cross trains children in military skills in occupied territories.
• The organization receives funding from international structures, despite being banned.
• New organizations under the brand of the Red Cross are emerging in Ukraine.

This is reported by Ukrinform, Meduza.

The Russian Red Cross (RCHC) is actively conducting its activities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including through the training of children in military skills. According to the investigations, the organization receives funding from international structures, despite the ban of the European Commission on the transfer of funds to Russia.

In 2024, the RCHC received 6.5 million euros from the International Committee of the Red Cross and 7 million euros from the International Federation of the Red Cross, which is twice as much as in 2022. This constitutes over a quarter of the annual budget of the organization.

The RCHC collaborates with military organizations, such as "First Aid" and "Youth", organizing competitions where children learn to assemble weapons and lead drones. The competition "Zarnytsia 2.0" is held in Russia and in the occupied territories, including Donetsk.

In addition, in some regions of Ukraine, new organizations have emerged that utilize the brand of the Red Cross, such as Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia Red Cross. They claim to cooperate with the International Committee, although the latter prohibits this information.

The Ukrainian government and human rights defenders are calling for sanctions against the RCHC, considering its activities a threat to the safety of children and a violation of humanitarian principles.

On November 14, a film competition took place in Saransk, providing first aid, in which children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine participated.

Tags: Ukraine/Russia/Politics