Interfax: Russian humanitarian convoy crosses into Ukraine

MOSCOW. Jan 8 (Interfax) – The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s humanitarian convoy has crossed into Ukraine and headed for Donetsk and Luhansk, deputy head of the ministry’s National Crisis Management Center Oleg Voronov said.

“Customs of the Matveyev Kurgan and Donetsk checkpoints in the Rostov region have cleared the humanitarian cargo. More than 60 trucks are moving towards Donetsk and the same number is moving towards Luhansk,” Voronov told Interfax on Thursday.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s convoy has divided into two parts. More than 120 trucks are carrying over 1,400 tonnes of humanitarian aid for residents of the two regions, including Christmas presents for children, foodstuffs, baby food, medicines and prime necessities.

“Over 700 tonnes of humanitarian aid will be brought to Donetsk and the same amount to Luhansk,” the ministry representative said.

The weather conditions are complex and temperatures drop to minus 27 degrees on some stretches of the route. “The weather forecast was known in advance. Drivers and rescuers were given additional instructions regarding driving under complex weather conditions and low temperatures. The drivers warmed up engines several times during the night for being ready to depart on time,” Voronov said.

All the drivers are experienced in humanitarian operations under extreme conditions and have delivered cargo to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions before.

This is the eleventh humanitarian convoy sent to Donbas. Previously, over 13,000 tonnes of humanitarian cargo have been delivered to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since the middle of August.