The command center is dissatisfied with the Red Cross's handling of prisoners.

The head of the secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war, Bohdan Okhrimenko, stated that the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the context of the war in Ukraine has sparked considerable debate. He expressed concern over the organization's insufficient activity and effectiveness in addressing critical humanitarian issues.

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Ohrimenko mentioned this in an exclusive comment to Novosti.LIVE on Wednesday, January 8.

What is known about the ICRC's operations

According to Ohrimenko, this particularly concerns access to prisoners of war. The ICRC states that its work is being hindered by the Russian side's unwillingness to allow access to those being held.

He also commented on mixed medical commissions (MMC) — Ukraine insists on the establishment of such commissions to examine prisoners of war, but Russia disagrees, while the Red Cross mostly limits its actions to diplomatic communications.

Ohrimenko states that Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on its side, but further progress is blocked. This raises questions about the effectiveness of international humanitarian organizations in such crisis conditions.

The Ukrainian side has repeatedly urged the ICRC to intensify its efforts and use all possible leverage to meet the humanitarian needs of prisoners of war and the civilian population.

Recall that in September 2024, relatives of prisoners and missing servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gathered outside the office of the Odessa branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Bazarnaya Street. They accused the organization of inaction and collusion with the aggressor.

The Odessa branch of the ICRC took a day off to avoid meeting with the families of prisoners and the missing. Participants of the rally stated that in this way the organization "hit rock bottom."