Updated 06:13 am Moscow time
IZVARINO (Ukraine), September 13 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian humanitarian convoy of about 70 trucks, carrying aid to eastern Ukraine, has passed the border checkpoint and entered Ukrainian territory, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Saturday.
The cargo was cleared by border and customs officers at the Russian "Donetsk" checkpoint. The Russian officers performed their work under the monitoring of their Ukrainian colleagues.
The convoy is heading in the direction of the eastern city of Luhansk. Members of local militia are ensuring the convoy's security.
On Friday, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) said that Moscow had formally notified it that the second Russian humanitarian aid convoy would arrive Saturday.
The first convoy of 280 trucks carrying Russian humanitarian aid was sent to eastern Ukraine in late August and entered the country through a checkpoint controlled by independence forces after spending more than a week waiting at the border.
Russia condemned Ukraine's deliberate delaying of the aid, sending its trucks across the border although some procedures had not been completed, prompting a negative reaction by Kiev and the West.
Residents of the conflict-ravaged Luhansk, who had been living for several weeks on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, greeted the aid delivery.
