The Red Cross responded to the claims of the Russian Orthodox Church - they are working on the use of the symbol together with the Church. The Russian Orthodox Church has previously called for the RKK to be stripped of the exclusive right to use the organization's symbol.
Now, according to the latest government order, religious organizations, as well as pharmacies and volunteers must coordinate the use of the sign with the RKK. This applies even to the Red Cross on the clothes of the Sisters of Mercy, complained the head of the legal department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Abbess Ksenia (Charanga). He added that it is not possible to "monopolize the right to use religious symbols".
The Russian Red Cross responded to the podium publication that they do not even question the right of religion to use the symbol in the form of a red cross; The "legal form" of this issue is currently being discussed.
"The possibility of using the Red Cross symbol by organizations associated with the Russian Orthodox Church is beyond doubt.
At the moment, the legal form of guaranteeing this right to the Russian Orthodox Church is being discussed exclusively. The Russian Red Cross began working on this issue with the legal department of the Russian Orthodox Church even before the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 16, 2026 No. 559 came into force."
At the same time, the organization emphasized that we are talking specifically about the official symbol in the form of an equilateral red cross - "a specific sign, the procedure of use of which has a long history".
According to Resolution No. 559, in addition to the RKK, the symbol with a red cross can be placed by free medical organizations, as well as military medical units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and law enforcement agencies, everything else - only with the approval of the RKK.