Russia accused of invading Ukraine as aid trucks cross
22 August 2014
Last updated at 11:37
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Daniel Sandford: “Around 70 trucks have now physically entered Ukraine”
Lorries from a Russian aid convoy are streaming into Ukraine without permission, after Russia accused Ukraine of unreasonable obstruction.
Russia’s foreign ministry said Ukraine had held up the convoy in order to pursue war against rebels in Luhansk, where the aid is destined.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was “not part of that convoy in any way”.
A Ukraine official said responsibility for the convoy rested on the Russians.
Reports suggest the lorries are being escorted by rebel fighters.
“Our humanitarian aid convoy is starting to move towards Luhansk,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement (in Russian).
It warned Ukraine not to take any action against the convoy without specifying the consequences.
Analysis: Daniel Sandford, BBC News
The risk of the Russian aid convoy causing a further deterioration in relations with Ukraine is now very high. Because the International Committee of the Red Cross is not part of the convoy, the government in Kyiv may choose not to recognise it as a humanitarian mission.
The lorries are currently being accompanied by pro-Russian gunmen. So the convoy is likely to be stopped at the front line near the besieged city of Luhansk. Or if it tries to work its way around the Ukrainian government forces, there is a risk of it being attacked – accidentally or intentionally.
The Russian foreign ministry has already a clear sent warning that if the convoy is attacked, Moscow may take action.
Ukraine fears that the aid convoy of at least 260 lorries, which arrived at the border more than a week ago, is part of a broader Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine.
Russia denies accusations that it arms and trains the rebels in the rebellion in Luhansk and the neighbouring region of Donetsk, where four months of fighting have left more than 2,000 people dead and has caused more than 330,000 people to flee their homes.
The rebel-held city of Luhansk has been without running water, power and phone communications for 20 days as government forces hold it under siege.
‘Rebel escort’
As many as 70 lorries have entered Ukrainian territory, moving out of the no-man’s land between the Russian and Ukrainian border posts.
Rebel fighters could be seen at the border as the lorries passed
The Ukrainian army continued operations in neighbouring Donetsk region on Friday
Reporters at the scene saw rebel fighters in front of the convoy as it passed over the border in a rebel-held sector near the Russian town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.
It is normally a drive of about two hours from the lorries’ camp to the city of Luhansk.
However, it is unclear if the convoy will be able to use the motorway there because of continuing combat between rebels and government forces.
An ICRC spokesperson in Moscow said it had concluded that it had not “received the necessary security guarantees from the fighting parties to allow us to escort the convoy at this time”.
It cited “heavy shelling overnight” in Luhansk.
“We understand that the convoy is now moving, however the ICRC is not part of that convoy in any way,” the spokesperson added.
The Russian branch of the ICRC said earlier it was ready to take part in the relief operation and was contacting its international colleagues.
Warning
“We are warning against any attempts to sabotage this purely humanitarian mission, which was prepared a long time ago, in an atmosphere of full transparency and in co-operation with the Ukrainian side and the ICRC,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
Delays in Ukrainian clearance for the convoy had “become unbearable”, it said.
“All excuses for blocking the delivery of aid to people in the area where this humanitarian catastrophe is happening have been exhausted,” it added.
“The Russian side has decided to act. Our convoy carrying humanitarian aid is beginning to move towards Luhansk.”
A Ukrainian government official told BBC News in Kyiv: “The Red Cross did not take part in all the procedures on the border. Ukrainian border guards cannot take part if the Red Cross is not participating.
“All responsibility lies with the Russian side – not with the terrorists, but specifically the Russian side, because this is their decision.”
In a statement on its website (in Russian), Luhansk’s official council reported on Friday that the dire situation in the city remained unchanged with no halt in the bombardment.