MOSCOW, August 23 (RIA Novosti) – All Russian humanitarian convoy trucks had delivered cargo to eastern Ukraine and returned to Russia empty, Deputy Emergency Minister Eduard Chizhikov said Saturday.
“There were 227 trucks participating in the humanitarian operation, and they have all returned. All those vehicles have been searched by the representatives of the customs and border control, both on the Ukrainian and Russian side. No issues have been pointed out. All vehicles were empty upon returning, and the media representatives checked that, too, while they were filming the search,” Chizhikov stated.
All humanitarian aid was handed over to authorities of Ukraine’s eastern city of Luhansk, according to the deputy minister. Volunteers and locals helped to unload the cargo, he added.
On August 14, the trucks carrying about 2,000 tons of Russian humanitarian aid arrived at the border, but Ukraine began customs clearance only on August 21.
On Friday, Moscow accused Kiev of deliberately delaying the aid delivery. The same day, Russian convoy crossed the border and arrived in Luhansk, the city being sieged by the Ukrainian army and struggling daily without regular food supplies, water and electricity.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the convoy crossing the Russian border as a violation of international norms.
Moscow reminded that Russia received a formal agreement from Kiev authorities for the passage of the humanitarian convoy through the Ukrainian border on August 12.
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