A controversial aid convoy of Russian military trucks halted near a rebel-held stretch of Ukraine's border last night, as Kiev continued to insist on strict terms for its entry and pounded the strongholds of pro-Moscow separatists.
The convoy of almost 300 trucks, hastily painted from army green to white before their departure from near Moscow on Tuesday, parked in a field where a camp had been prepared, about 30km from the Ukrainian frontier.
Kiev refused to let the trucks enter Ukraine through government-controlled Khar- kiv region after Russia said it had no plans to transfer the aid to vehicles provided by the Red Cross, which would distribute it in Luhansk region.
The vast convoy – which Russia insists contains only food, water, medical supplies and generators – is now close to the Izvarino border crossing controlled by the rebels.
It is still not clear, however, whether Ukraine will approve the trucks’ entry or whether Russia will allow the vehicles to be inspected by customs officials and border guards.
It is also not known whether the Red Cross will agree to distribute the cargo.
"We have made contact with the leader of the convoy going from Russia to Ukraine. Many details of the operation still need to be clarified," the International Committee of the Red Cross said on its Russian Twitter feed.
Kiev fears the trucks may contain weapons or other supplies for the rebels, or could be used to give Russia a pretext for invading Ukraine with forces that are massed close to the border. "The Russian side was offered absolutely transparent terms for joining the international humanitarian mission," said Ukrainian military spokesman Andrei Lysenko.
“Everything should happen according to the rules of the International Committee of the Red Cross. But we see that for several days already, the Russian side is not fulfilling the demands of this authoritative international organisation.”
If the Red Cross was not allowed to inspect the cargo, “the convoy will be blocked with all available forces”, Mr Lysenko added.
Ukraine claimed yesterday to have seized the area between Izvarino and Luhansk, a city of about 400,000 people that is without power and water after weeks of fighting. “Ukrainian forces have closed the last possibility for road communications between Luhansk and other territories controlled by Russian mercenaries,” Mr Lysenko said.
Ukrainian convoy
Ukraine dispatched its own convoy of aid to eastern regions, where more than 2,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in fighting between Kiev’s troops and insurgents allegedly armed by Russia.
At least two people were killed yesterday as shells struck central Donetsk, which was home to one million people before the conflict.
Ukrainian forces and the rebels blamed each other for firing rockets that caused terror in apartment blocks, shops and office buildings, prompting people to run to their cellars for protection.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine discussed “practical aspects” of delivering the aid last night, according to Moscow’s foreign ministry, which also called for an immediate cessation of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Kiev’s forces have gained the upper hand over the rebels in recent weeks, closing in on their Donetsk and Luhansk strongholds and seeing several top militants leave their posts. The rebels’ “defence minister”, Igor Strelkov, resigned yesterday.
Moscow says it has no intention of invading Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin pledged yesterday to "do all we can so this conflict comes to an end as soon as possible".
