Kyiv – the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), strongly condemn the attack on the base of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on 29 August 2022.

The premises have been used by the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the URCS since April 2022, with volunteers working tirelessly to support the safe passage of hundreds of seriously ill patients, elderly people, children, and people with disabilities, away from the frontlines. The building and vehicles were clearly identified with the Red Cross emblem and GPS coordinates had been duly notified to the parties.

No volunteers were present at the time but their work to support communities affected by the international armed conflict is strongly impacted as the buildings and materials are severely damaged. These volunteers have been providing essential items such as food, water, hygiene products, medicine, and supporting with reparations and restoration of damaged houses.

International humanitarian law affords protection, among others, to civilians as well as the medical units and humanitarian bodies trying to help them – this includes the facilities, vehicles, and staff of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; which includes the URCS. Any attack on these is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Together with the URCS, the ICRC is working in areas close to the frontlines, to assist the wounded and those not and no longer taking part in the international armed conflict. For us to carry out our mandate, we remind the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety of all humanitarian facilities, vehicles, and staff.

For further information, please contact:

Lesya Oliinyk (Ukrainian), l.oliinyk@redcross.org.ua, +380 063 993 57 10

Oleksandr Vlasenko in Kyiv (Ukrainian, English), ovlasenko@icrc.org, +380 503 484 743

Achille Després in Kyiv (English, French, Italian), adespres@icrc.org, +380 50 324 31 80