The ICRC in Russia and Belarus: Facts and Figures, May-August 2025
Main highlights
- From June 11 to 16, ICRC forensic teams participated in a large-scale repatriation of fallen servicemen between Russian and Ukraine, upon the request of the Parties. Technical advice and material support were provided to allow for the dignified return of the human remains.
- From June 30 to July 8, the new ICRC Director of Operations, Yasmine Praz Dessimoz, paid a first visit to Moscow, where she met with the Russian High Commissioner for Human Rights, Tatiana Moskalkova, and the President of the Russian Red Cross, Pavel Savchuk. She also visited Donetsk and Luhansk.
- On June 10 and 11, a regional conference on international humanitarian law (IHL), the Martens Readings, was held in Saint-Petersburg. Over 100 participants included leading scholars from Belarus, China, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of Belarusian and Russian authorities, the CSTO, IPA CIS and ICRC headquarters. Thematic sections covered the ICRC’s latest IHL Challenges Report, sessions on history of IHL, teaching and research in the field of IHL, as well as a youth section.
- On May 16th, the ICRC participated for the first time in the Russia-Islamic World Kazan Forum and held humanitarian dialogue with Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, the Chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, head of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Russia.
- On June 18 to 21, the ICRC attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and spoke on ICRC's experience during the Second World War and the relevance of IHL today at a MGIMO-organized panel.
- In June, the ICRC addressed a large-scale scam targeting families of servicemen and the missing. Families were informed on ICRC’s social media (over 3 million views), as well as by authorities, the Russian Red Cross, influencers and media. The frauds’ profiles were blocked in cooperation with technology companies.
