ICRC

The ICRC was founded in 1863 in Geneva and is mandated by the Geneva Conventions to protect civilians and combatants affected by armed conflict. It operates on principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. The ICRC is not a UN agency or NGO but an independent sui generis organization with observer status at the UN.

ICRC Ukraine operates one of the most complex country programmes in the organization’s history, navigating access challenges across the contact line, maintaining confidential dialogue with Russian and Ukrainian authorities, monitoring POW treatment, and providing humanitarian assistance across both government- and non-government-controlled areas where possible. ICRC’s core activities include health facility support (surgical, primary care), water system repair, food and NFI distribution, MHPSS, and family tracing for separated persons. ICRC’s principled neutrality and access make it a unique actor in the Ukraine response architecture.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent, neutral, and impartial humanitarian organization mandated under international humanitarian law to protect victims of armed conflict and other violence. ICRC operates in over 100 countries, providing health care, water, food, and protection services, and engaging armed parties on IHL compliance.

Ukraine Commitment

ICRC Ukraine operates one of the organization’s largest country programmes, maintaining dialogue with all parties to the conflict, supporting frontline health facilities and detention monitoring, distributing aid across contact lines, and advocating for IHL compliance and POW access.