Russian aid sets off for Ukraine

A Russian humanitarian aid convoy has set off from a city near Moscow and is heading to its final destination in eastern Ukraine, officials have said.

The 280 trucks laden with food and medical supplies departed Naro-Fominsk on Tuesday after an agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine on Monday to allow a Red Cross-led humanitarian mission into the eastern region of Luhansk. Luhansk has borne the brunt of the fighting, and food and energy supplies are running short.

NATO has previously expressed concerns that Russia could use a humanitarian mission to launch an invasion of Ukraine’s east, which is slowly being reclaimed from pro-Russian separatists by the Ukrainian military.

Russia has told reporters the trucks will be taking 400 tons of cereals, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of baby food, 54 tons of medical drugs and stock, as well as 12,000 sleeping bags and 69 power generators to the civilians of Luhansk.

Russia initially came up with a proposal to dispatch an international humanitarian mission to the region last Tuesday at the UN Security Council.

The Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Monday quoted Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebiynis as saying the humanitarian convoy could only be carried out under specific conditions.

He said all aid would have to cross into Ukraine through border crossings under Kiev’s control.

At least 100km of the Russian-Ukrainian border is currently in rebel hands.