We are deeply concerned with the unilateral actions of the Russian Federation over the delivery of the humanitarian convoy the East of Ukraine. We take it as a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine.

We think those actions of Russian cannot be justified from the perspective of urgency of delivery of the humanitarian assistance to the East of Ukraine either.

On August 14, humanitarian assistance goods were sent by Ukrainian government for residents of cities and towns of Luhansk and Donetsk regions that are temporarily under control of terrorists.

In total over 70 trucks with up to 800 tons of cargo have been sent to eastern Ukraine from Kiev and the rest from other cities of Ukraine, that delivered necessary food (including cereals, flour, pasta, canned meat and fish, sunflower oil, etc.), hygiene items, children's goods, medicines.

Yesterday the Government of Ukraine started customs and border control clearance of the Russian humanitarian convoy. By today’s morning we have processed dozens of trucks.     

However, today Russia has begun transportation of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, ignoring established international rules, procedures and agreements, without the consent and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

  Although the border and customs services of Ukraine have already started clearance of the Russian convoy, in the morning Ukrainian officials were blocked by the Russian forces and prevented from the inspection of the rest of the trucks in the convoy, despite previous agreements and the fact that the Ukrainian officials had been invited to the territory of Russia. We are concerned about the safety of our employees. Moreover, deep concern is raised because so far neither Ukrainian side nor the ICRC are aware of the content of the cargo.

The fact that Russian trucks entered the territory of Ukraine without proper border and customs procedures and that the cargo was not passed to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross indicates deliberate and aggressive nature of Russia’s actions.
           As we have previously emphasized the Russian side is fully responsible for the safety of the cargo. It is important to note that the Ukraine has already taken all necessary measures to ensure the security of the cargo.

 In order to prevent any provocations we have issued all necessary instructions for the safe passing of the convoy. Despite all attempts by the Ukrainian side the contact between the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the one of Russia, has not been established, which is critical to ensure security along the route. We point out that terrorists carry out mortar attacks along the possible route of the cargo.

We also are not aware of the content of the agreements of the Russian side with Luhansk insurgents and we do not exclude the possibility of any planned provocation.
          We consider this act to be another blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including inviolability of borders, non-interference in the internal affairs of another state and bona fide fulfillment of international obligations by the Russian Federation.

We call on the Russian Federation to take all possible measures to comply with the previously negotiated conditions on the humanitarian aid supply. 

Russian humanitarian convoy, created more problems than encourage solution of the crises

We requested the SG to take all appropriate actions to stop such provocative actions of the Russian Federation which are threatening further escalation of the crisis and to immediately put their humanitarian efforts in Ukraine in strict compliance with the international humanitarian assistance standards. 

We’ve also requested the SC to urgently consider this situation