MOSCOW
The Russian convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid for the people in southeastern Ukraine, which was kept waiting on the border for days, has started to head towards the eastern region of Luhansk, the Russian foreign ministry announced.
"All excuses for blocking aid to the people in disaster areas have been exhausted," said the Russian foreign ministry's statement on Friday. "Russia has decided to start to move. Our aid convoy has started to head towards the Luhansk region."
The statement indicates that all security guarantees regarding the convoy have been given. It adds that Kiev would be held responsible for any provocation against the convoy.
The first 16 trucks bearing humanitarian aid arrived at the Donetsk border checkpoint last Sunday.
Kiev suspected the aid convoy to be part of a broader direct intervention by Russia into southeastern Ukraine. Officials held up the convoy on the border for fear that it could contain weapons for pro-Russian separatists.
Russian authorities had agreed to inspections of the trucks bound for rebel-held areas in Ukraine's east.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement on Thursday that it had "taken all necessary administrative and preparatory steps for the passage of the Russian convoy."
However, it is being reported that the international organization is not part of the moving convoy.
The convoy, which set out from Moscow on August 12, consists of 280 trucks, carrying 400 tons of grain, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of baby food, 54 tons of medical supplies and drugs, 12 tons of sleeping bags and 69 generators of various sizes, the Russian foreign ministry said.
Unrest in eastern Ukraine has torn the region apart since April, when the government launched "anti-terror" operations against armed separatists seeking to break away from Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea into Russia in March.
Luhansk is one of two areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The civilian population is facing severe shortages as government forces encircle rebel fighters.
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