Those heading there do so with grim prospects ahead as Putin’s forces continue to lose ground and numbers, despite weeks of brutal missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and power stations.

While the Western community has largely shunned Russia’s efforts, enforcing heavy sanctions and providing aid to Ukraine, one social media post suggested a well-known charity was helping to support Russia in its mobilization against Kyiv.

The Claim

A tweet, posted on October 24, 2022, claims that the “Russian Red Cross confirms it runs campaigns to raise money for families of mobilized Russian soldiers AND professional militaries. Not the POWs (what is ok), but the families, effectively reducing Russian costs of war and helping the Russian state to mobilize more.”

The tweet includes a screengrab of what appears to be a page on the Russian Red Cross website.

The Facts

It’s worth noting that the Red Cross is not one organization working globally under one name, but instead a humanitarian network.

The Russian Red Cross is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, a humanitarian organization designed to be independent of government and militaries.

This means that while joined under one umbrella, the network is decentralized enough for individual societies to work independently and impartially to save lives and support people in areas of conflict, famine, disaster and other emergencies.

As such, the tweet and screengrab about the Russian Red Cross are authentic. Translated from Russian, the screen-grabbed website states that the Russian Red Cross “as part of the #MYVMESTE campaign, is opening a collection to support the families of mobilized and families of military personnel.”

The #MYVMESTE campaign has been running in the Russian Federation throughout 2022. The front page of its website states it has been set up to offer “care and support” to “loved ones” of male Russian soldiers.

The website is, however, littered with Russian state propaganda; one such example is a project encouraging children to “write a poem or a song about love for the Motherland.” It states that one of its “organizers” is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, part of the Russian government.

A news report from April 2022 stated that the Russian Red Cross “as part of the #MYVMESTE headquarters” delivered 60 tons of humanitarian aid to “refugees” from Ukraine in the annexed Crimean towns of Sevastopol and Simferopol, as well as Krasnodar in Southern Russia.

A translation of a statement by Russian Red Cross chairman Pavel Savchuk (pictured in the screengrab) says: “We understand that the families of mobilized citizens are now facing a number of difficulties.

“This is a feeling of anxiety against the background of worrying about loved ones, and the need for financial or humanitarian support.

“Therefore, it is very important to support them and provide all possible assistance. We will work with the requests of the mobilized families on an individual basis, humanitarian kits will also be formed for those in need.

“Already now people can receive psychosocial support from the specialists of the Russian Red Cross.”

So, not only is the Russian Red Cross fundraising and supporting families of soldiers fighting in Ukraine, there does appear to be a link (if only through a charity campaign) between it and at least one branch of the Russian government.

However, a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told Newsweek that neither it (nor the International Committee of the Red Cross) were involved in the “domestic fundraising campaign mentioned” and that each Red Cross and Red Crescent Society “respond where the needs are greatest in their communities.”

“As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, all National Societies are guided by seven fundamental principles, including impartiality,” they added.

“This means we save lives and prevent human suffering no matter who people are or where they live. To be able to help, we need all parties to respect our independence, neutrality and impartiality and not to politicize the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“Our focus on saving lives means that many National Societies – including Russian Red Cross – care for families who are coping with the absence of a loved one.

“In response to conflict, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams’ mission includes re-establishing links between missing loved ones, caring for wounded soldiers, and helping children whose parents are deployed to cope with stress.”

“For its part, the ICRC interacts with militaries globally on the protection of POWs, reconnecting families, supporting their access to health care, and conducting training on international humanitarian law.”

“This is part of its core mission which is to ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and internal strife.”

Russia’s conscripts have reportedly experienced “grim” and “awful” conditions while in camp, with claims of rampant sickness, petty crime, and lack of equipment.

In October 2022, governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast, Serhiy Haidai, said that Russian soldiers were resigning “en masse” and prematurely terminating their contracts.

The Ruling

True.

As stated on its website the Russian Red Cross, an organization making up the international network of Red Cross societies, has been fundraising and providing support for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and their families.

However, this does not mean that other Red Cross societies or its international organizing bodies have any part in its fundraising. The International Federation of Red Cross says it is guided by “impartiality”, among its guiding principles.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek’s Fact Check team