NARO-FOMINSK, MOSCOW REGION, August 12 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian humanitarian convoy departed early on Tuesday from the Russian city of Naro-Fominsk in the Moscow Region and is headed to the affected areas in eastern Ukraine, the regional administration told journalists.
“The convoy will bring some 2,000 tons of relief aid contributed by Moscow and Moscow Region residents to the people in eastern Ukraine,” an official said.
Some 280 truck-loads of humanitarian aid include 400 tons of cereals, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of infant foods, 54 tons of medical drugs and stock, as well as 12,000 sleeping bags and 69 power generators.
On Monday, Russia and Ukraine said in a statement they had agreed to a Red Cross-led humanitarian mission to the war-torn Ukrainian region of Luhansk, where food and energy supplies are running short.
Russia initially came up with a proposal to dispatch an international humanitarian mission to the region last Tuesday at the UN Security Council.
On Monday, the Red Cross said it was awaiting all necessary details from Moscow on its humanitarian assistance for eastern Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the West not to impede the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to eastern Ukrainian regions.