MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti) - The recognition of the civil war in Ukraine is not likely to affect the activities the Red Cross and Red Crescent in the country, the main aim of which is to help people and ease their sufferings, the head of Russian Red Cross Raisa Lukuttsova told RIA Novosti Saturday.
Earlier, Reuters reported, citing the diplomatic source, that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assesses the situation in Ukraine as internal conflict close to the state of war. Russian Red Cross appealed to the Geneva-based humanitarian body for the confirmation or refutation of the information.
“No matter what the answer [from ICRC] will be, it will not change the goal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – to help ease people’s sufferings. Red Cross, first of all, helps vulnerable people, who found themselves in a difficult situation, especially children, old people and women,” Lukuttsova said.
The ongoing military operation in the southeast of Ukraine was launched by Kiev authorities in mid-April, after Luhansk and Donetsk refused to recognize the legitimacy of coup-imposed government and declared themselves independent republics.
According to a UN report, the ongoing conflict claimed the lives of 1,129 civilians from mid-April through July 26, with another 3,442 injured.
Moscow has repeatedly urged Kiev to stop the bloodshed.
