Maksym Dotsenko: “The Ukrainian Red Cross demonstrates that a national society is capable not only of delivering humanitarian aid, but also of taking a leading role in crisis situations, forging partnerships, and reshaping approaches to humanitarian response”
This was stated today by the Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross at the opening of a two-day international forum in Kyiv, dedicated to the exchange of experience in preparing for and responding to war and international armed conflicts. The event brought together senior representatives of national societies from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, government officials from Ukraine and Europe, international humanitarian partners, and academic experts.
Since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainian Red Cross has carried out large-scale humanitarian operations under unprecedented conditions. Drawing on this experience, the organisation is creating a platform for cooperation, analysis, and strategic planning to strengthen the International Movement’s readiness to respond to similar crises in the future.
“Since 2014, Ukraine has walked a difficult path in humanitarian response, demonstrating the strength and unity of the country’s volunteer movement. This is an experience that will stay with us for life,” emphasised Mykola Polishchuk, President of the Ukrainian Red Cross, in his opening address.
As a trusted partner of the state in emergency response, the Ukrainian Red Cross was joined at the forum by representatives of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
“This event is not only about sharing experience, but also about building trust and identifying concrete next steps for cooperation and capacity-building — both for Ukraine and our partners. The integration of the Ukrainian Red Cross into the Unified State System of Civil Protection strengthens and enhances the overall capacity of Ukraine’s civil protection system,” said Viktor Vitovetskyi, Director of the Department for Organisation of Civil Protection Measures at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Key topics at the forum included the role of national societies in armed conflicts, the legal framework for humanitarian action, practical aspects of coordination, communications and planning during wartime, as well as humanitarian diplomacy and adherence to the Movement’s Fundamental Principles.
“The example of the Ukrainian Red Cross shows that even in the darkest of times, humanitarian assistance is not only an expression of compassion, but also a vital force for change,” said Hugo Slim, International Relations Adviser at the British Red Cross, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, and expert on the ethics of war.
The forum will run until 18 June and aims to serve as a platform for strengthening dialogue, finding common solutions, and developing new strategies for humanitarian response at the international level.
