Russia convoy an 'invasion' of Ukraine

Russia’s sending of a massive aid convoy into Ukraine without Kiev’s agreement is a “direct invasion”, Ukraine’s Security Service chief has said.

Russia convoy an 'invasion' of Ukraine

Russia’s sending of a massive aid convoy into Ukraine without Kiev’s agreement is a “direct invasion”, Ukraine’s Security Service chief has said.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said the invasion “happened for the first time under the cover of the Red Cross”.

He said those driving the aid trucks are Russian military men who are trained to drive combat vehicles.

The half-empty trucks will be used to transport weapons to the rebels and take the bodies of Russian fighters away from eastern Ukraine, he claimed.

Russia unilaterally sent what it says is an aid mission into rebel-held eastern Ukraine, saying its patience had worn out after a week of delays it blamed on the Ukrainian government.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which had planned to escort the convoy to assuage fears that it was being used as a cover for an invasion by Russia, said it had not received enough security guarantees to do so.

Trucks loaded with water, generators and sleeping bags sent from Moscow are intended for civilians in the city of Luhansk, where pro-Russian separatist fighters are besieged by government forces. Shelling of the city has been ongoing for weeks.

“The Russian side has decided to act,” said a statement on the Russian foreign ministry’s website. “Our column with humanitarian aid is starting to move in the direction of Luhansk.”

The Red Cross said in a statement on its Twitter account that it is not escorting the convoy due to security concerns, as shelling had continued overnight. “We’ve not received sufficient security guarantees from the fighting parties,” it said.

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