Frontier face-off amid convoy controversy on the Ukraine-Russia border
- 10 years ago
Hundreds of military vehicles, which Russia says contain humanitarian aid, were parked up near the eastern Ukrainian border as Moscow and Kyiv wrangled over border crossing procedures and inspections of what is in those trucks.
On Friday Ukraine said its border guards and customs officials were checking the cargo, alongside Red Cross representatives.
The fact that the inspections had started was a sign that the two countries were taking steps to ease mounting tensions over the shipment.
Moscow wants the convoy to head into the main stronghold of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces, where many people are without food and water.
Kyiv fears the humanitarian aid might be used as cover for a Russian military intervention.
At the same time a Ukrainian government convoy has reached the Luhansk region from the other direction and aid – mostly food – has been unloaded for distribution to those locals who have not fled the fighting.
Red Cross delegate Peter Huber said: “We have already determined some people who need this aid, and we plan to distribute it among those who need it. But I can’t say now where exactly the aid will be sent to and who will get it.”
From what ever source, it seems some hard pressed Eastern Ukrainians are close to getting some relief.
Nearby tension remains high as journalists on the ground reported seeing Russian armored personnel carriers in the area, with some crossing over to the Ukrainian side of the border.
Asked about the report, a Ukrainian military spokesman, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky, said: “These movements into Ukrainian territory take place practically every day with the aim of provoking (the Ukrainian side). Last night was no exception. Some armoured vehicles came across. We are checking on the quantity and the number of people who came over.”
On Friday Ukraine said its border guards and customs officials were checking the cargo, alongside Red Cross representatives.
The fact that the inspections had started was a sign that the two countries were taking steps to ease mounting tensions over the shipment.
Moscow wants the convoy to head into the main stronghold of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces, where many people are without food and water.
Kyiv fears the humanitarian aid might be used as cover for a Russian military intervention.
At the same time a Ukrainian government convoy has reached the Luhansk region from the other direction and aid – mostly food – has been unloaded for distribution to those locals who have not fled the fighting.
Red Cross delegate Peter Huber said: “We have already determined some people who need this aid, and we plan to distribute it among those who need it. But I can’t say now where exactly the aid will be sent to and who will get it.”
From what ever source, it seems some hard pressed Eastern Ukrainians are close to getting some relief.
Nearby tension remains high as journalists on the ground reported seeing Russian armored personnel carriers in the area, with some crossing over to the Ukrainian side of the border.
Asked about the report, a Ukrainian military spokesman, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky, said: “These movements into Ukrainian territory take place practically every day with the aim of provoking (the Ukrainian side). Last night was no exception. Some armoured vehicles came across. We are checking on the quantity and the number of people who came over.”