The Ukrainian Red Cross at the Europe Civil Security Forum

On 21–22 May, the Europe Civil Security Forum took place in Warsaw, bringing together key institutions involved in security, humanitarian response, and civil society across Europe. Participants included Civil Protection Services from EU Member States, the Association of Local Governments of the EU, and other international partners.

The Ukrainian Red Cross was represented by Andrii Pozniakevych, Head of the Disaster Management Department. During a panel discussion, he shared the organisation’s experience as a non-governmental humanitarian actor in responding to emergencies amid ongoing hostilities and under martial law.

“The participation of the Ukrainian Red Cross in emergency response is built on the flexibility, speed, and daily readiness of our volunteers. In times of war, we have become a vital link between government services and local communities, and this interaction is key to saving the lives of Ukrainians,” said Andrii Pozniakevych.

The key points of the speech included:

• The role of the voluntary sector in emergency response, and the increased involvement of volunteers in both preparedness and response activities.
• Security challenges faced by communities during times of war.
• The importance of public preparedness for crises.
• The participation and involvement of civil society in emergency preparedness and response as the foundation of a sustainable civil protection system.

Ukraine is part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and the experience of the Ukrainian Red Cross stands as an example of a flexible, effective, and systematic approach to working in emergency situations.