Updated 4:35 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) – The self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) said Friday Moscow formally notified it about the arrival of the second Russian humanitarian aid convoy Saturday.
“We received a notification from Russia that the second humanitarian convoy will arrive to Luhansk People’s Republic Saturday,” a spokesman for the republic’s press service told RIA Novosti.
The prime minister of the self-proclaimed republic, Gennady Tsypkalov, confirmed the plans saying, "Tomorrow we are expecting 280 vehicles loaded with humanitarian cargo, to cross the border with Russia."
"We are very grateful to the Russian Federation for providing us with aid," Tsypkalov said, adding that residents of the troubled region are currently in a "critical" situation.
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.
The crisis in Luhansk increased after the government troops blocked access to the eastern Ukrainian city. Food supplies to the city were cut and its citizens were left without drinking water.
