Topline
Ukrainian authorities on Sunday appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to not open its planned new facility in Russia, reiterating their earlier warnings that Russia was forcibly evacuating Ukrainian citizens into its territory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President … [+]
Key Facts
Ukrainian lawmaker Mykhailo Radutskyi, urged the Red Cross to change its plans to open a facility in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don—located near the Ukrainian border—Reuters reported.
Radutskyi, who chairs the Ukrainian parliament’s public health committee, said that such a move by the Red Cross would only serve to legitimize Russia’s “ abduction of Ukrainians” and their “forced deportation.”
The southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, located close to the Ukrainian border, has been used by Moscow to temporarily house people who have been extracted from war zones in eastern Ukraine.
Big Number
271,254. That’s the total number of Ukrainian refugees that have entered Russia since the start of its invasion, according to the United Nations. In total more than 3.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine.
Key Background
Earlier this week ICRC chief Peter Maurer held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after which he said that a pact was needed between the Ukrainian and Russian militaries to allow for the safe evacuation of civilians from places like Mariupol. The Russian media reported that Maurer had asked Lavrov to enable the Red Cross to set up a new facility in Rostov-on-Don to help displaced Ukrainians in the city. Ukrainian authorities have alleged that Russia has forcibly deported 15,000 people from the besieged port city of Mariupol.
Further Reading
Ukraine asks Red Cross not to open office in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don (Reuters)
More Than 3.5 Million Refugees Have Fled Ukraine Since Russia’s Invasion (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/03/27/ukraine-says-new-red-cross-office-in-russia-will-legitimize-moscows-alleged-abduction-of-civilians/