During the three years of full-scale war, the Ukrainian Red Cross (URC) has been significantly transformed. Its activities include not only humanitarian aid, but also infrastructure restoration, social support and psychological rehabilitation. Maksym Dotsenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Red Cross, talks about the organisation’s challenges, achievements, and future.
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‘This is a completely different Red Cross’
— The Great War has been going on for three years now. What are the key achievements of the Ukrainian Red Cross during this time?
— First, it is growth. When I joined the Red Cross in 2018, it was completely different. Now the organisation has grown 12-13 times in terms of the number of projects, programmes, and employees. If in 2018 we had 400 employees, now we have almost 5000. We started doing things we hadn’t even thought about before: restoring infrastructure, building housing, and installing power grids. The most important thing is to make a difference in the lives of the people we help.
Staffing challenge and team motivation
— Charities often talk about staff shortages. How is it with you?
— It exists, and there is no denying it. Many Ukrainians have left the country, including highly qualified specialists. But we create conditions for people to want to work in our organisation. It is essential for us not just to give people a job, but to involve them in a common mission and create a sense of responsibility.
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Transparency and funding
— Where do the funds of the Ukrainian Red Cross go and do you undergo audits?
— Our budget is significant but insufficient to cover all humanitarian needs. The main expenditures are social assistance, medical services, support for IDPs, and infrastructure restoration. We are constantly undergoing audits. We have external audits from the Big Four audit companies, audits of individual programmes from donors, and internal audits. This is a matter of our reputation and the trust of our international partners.
Cooperation with the state
— What projects has UCR implemented together with the state?
— One of the largest was the Shelter project. It involves payments to families who have sheltered IDPs totalling more than three billion hryvnias. We also cooperate with the Ministry of Veterans on a support hotline, and together with the Ministry of Health, we are restoring medical facilities, including paediatric cardiac surgery at Okhmatdyt. In total, we have more than 29 memorandums with government agencies.
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Helping the military and working in frontline areas
— Do you help the military?
— The Ukrainian Red Cross does not supply weapons or ammunition, but we cooperate with the military within the framework of international humanitarian law: we help medical units, evacuate the bodies of the dead, and provide support to the families of the military.
— Do you have any losses among your volunteers?
— Unfortunately, yes. Six of our volunteers have been killed during the war. They were the ones who stayed in the most dangerous areas to help people. The protection of humanitarian workers in this war is not working as it should, and this is a serious challenge for the entire international community.
Future and new projects
— How have the needs of Ukrainians changed over the three years of war?
— Initially, it was an emergency response: food, hygiene, temporary housing. Now we are focusing more and more on integrating people into communities, retraining, psychological support, and helping veterans. Ukraine must be ready to rebuild, and we are already working on it.
— What are your plans for the near future?
— Our new five-year strategy will be launched next year. We will invest more in social services, civil protection, and preparing communities for potential threats. We will also continue rehabilitation programmes, support for veterans and mental health.
— What is your main message to Ukrainians?
— We will win. Ukraine will become stronger. We have to build a future for our children here in our country. I believe in the bright future of Ukraine and urge everyone to contribute to its creation.
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