History - Kharkiv Regional Organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society

Основна мета діяльності Товариства Червоного Хреста України — захист життя людини, запобігання та полегшення людських страждань під час збройних конфліктів, стихійних лих, катастроф та аварій, надання допомоги медичній службі збройних сил та органам охорони здоров’я, сприяння органам державної влади України у їх діяльності у гуманітарній сфері.

«…Вказана мета досягається цілком неупереджено, без будь-якої дискримінації за національною, расовою, статевою, релігійною, мовною, класовою ознакою чи політичними переконаннями…» (Зі Статуту Товариства Червоного Хреста України).

1918

On April 18, the First Congress of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society was held in Kyiv. This date marks the beginning of the Ukrainian Red Cross as an independent national society.

1920s

The Society organized thousands of free canteens for people in need and distributed millions of food rations to the population.

1930s

The Ukrainian Red Cross owned and operated:

119 medical institutions
206 preventive care and children’s facilities
one quarter of all tuberculosis dispensaries
36 health resorts
800 public bathhouses
300 feldsher-midwife stations
400 pharmacies and retail outlets

These efforts significantly strengthened access to healthcare and social support across the country.

1941–1945

During World War II, the Ukrainian Red Cross trained and deployed over 100,000 nurses, medical instructors, and sanitary units to the front. During this period, the organization also became an initiator of voluntary blood donation.

The heroism of 17 Ukrainian nurses who took part in combat operations was recognized with the Florence Nightingale Medal — the highest award of the International Committee of the Red Cross. To date, 23 Ukrainian nurses have received this prestigious international distinction for exceptional compassion and dedication in the post-war period.

1961

The Society established a patronage service to provide medical and social support to vulnerable populations.

1986

More than 10,000 volunteers, including members of Red Cross sanitary posts and units, took part in the evacuation and resettlement of people affected by the Chornobyl disaster. They provided medical, social, psychological, and material assistance.

A total of 7,000 tons of food, 105 tons of powdered milk, multivitamins, and levothyroxine were distributed to support those affected.

1990

At the initiative of the Ukrainian Red Cross, a comprehensive Chornobyl Program was launched. Mobile diagnostic teams conducted medical examinations of affected populations and carried out awareness campaigns in impacted regions.

To support humanitarian programs for those affected by the Chornobyl disaster, the Ukrainian Red Cross raised over $35 million in funding.

1992

The President of Ukraine issued the “Decree on the Ukrainian Red Cross Society,” officially recognizing it as the sole national Red Cross Society in Ukraine, authorized to support public authorities in humanitarian activities.

In accordance with a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Tracing Service of the Ukrainian Red Cross was established. Its primary mission is to search for missing persons and restore family links lost due to World War II, other armed conflicts, natural disasters, emergencies, and migration.

1993

The Society received official recognition from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva and became a full member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

1999

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On the Emblems of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Ukraine,” which defines the порядок, умови використання, та захист емблем Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця на території України.

2002

The Law of Ukraine “On the Ukrainian Red Cross Society” was adopted, regulating relations related to the activities of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and defining its legal status and operational framework.

2013–2018

The Society operated in an emergency response mode. Rapid response units were established to assist people affected by civil unrest, particularly in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Vinnytsia.

The Ukrainian Red Cross focused its efforts on supporting people affected by the armed conflict, including internally displaced persons from conflict-affected regions and Crimea, while continuing to assist vulnerable populations.

During this period, the Society also expanded its psychosocial support programs.

History of Kharkiv Red Cross