Kyiv, August 15, 2014 – “On government orders, 71 trucks with almost 800 tons of humanitarian aid for the citizens of Luhansk and Donetsk oblast departed yesterday from three Ukrainian cities: Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv. The columns of transport with humanitarian aid that departed from Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk have already arrived in the town of Starobilsk in Luhansk oblast. The cargo from Kyiv is expected in the nearest future,” stated NSDC Information Center spokesman Colonel Andriy Lysenko during a press briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The Kharkiv column includes 26 trucks: 18 were supplied by Kharkiv oblast, 2 by Poltava oblast, 1 by Cherkasy oblast, 5 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food. “Humanitarian aid includes foodstuffs (vegetables, grains, sugar, flour, sunflower seed oil, canned food, honey, tea), water, medicine, hygiene products (diapers, soap, laundry powder, nappies, wet wipes etc.), as well as other products and goods the citizens of the Ukrainian east may require. The total weight of the humanitarian cargo that has already arrived is 390 tons,” added the NSDC spokesman. Rescue and logistics workers of the International Red Cross Committee are sorting humanitarian aid according to product types at the moment. Perishable products, such as vegetables and fruit, will be the first to be sent to their destinations. Later, the International Red Cross Committee trucks will depart for Donbas cities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine published a statement regarding Russia’s attempt to supply humanitarian aid last night. “The statement describes the procedure of providing such aid according to Ukrainian legislation and international law. It is emphasized that Russia is responsible for possible provocations on part of the terrorists during the international humanitarian aid mission for the needs of the civilians in Luhansk oblast initiated by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko,” emphasized colonel Lysenko.
Within the last 24 hours, Ukrainian servicemen managed to take control of three more cities: Chenukhine in Luhansk and Bulavinske and Olexandrivske in Donetsk oblasts. ATO troops are advancing and surrounding the mercenaries in Luhansk. Positional combat near Donetsk, Luhansk, Horlivka, Ilovaysk, Pervomaysk, Krasniy Luch continues.
A column of Russian military equipment entered Ukraine through Izvarine checkpoint, which is temporary out of control by Ukrainian border services, from Donetsk of Rostov oblast in Russia tonight. “The amount and type of this equipment is being investigated. However, this fact was documented by the international media. According to operative data, the terrorists are attempting to form new gangs out of prisoners. We note that the prisoners themselves refuse to leave the territory of their detention centers,” added Andriy Lysenko.
