28th March, 2018
The Russian Emergencies Ministry on Wednesday said it had almost completed the formation of the 75th convoy of humanitarian aid set to depart to eastern Ukraine’s region of Donbas on Thursday.
“The work on the formation of the 75th humanitarian aid convoy with children’s food packages, educational literature, and basic necessities is nearing completion in Kovalyovka settlement of the Rostov region,’’ the statement read.
It added that the delivery was slated for Thursday.
The previous convoy arrived in Donbas on Feb. 22, while the next one is scheduled for April.
Russia has brought over 74,000 tonnes of aid to the war-hit region since August 2014.
The military operation in eastern Ukraine was launched by Kiev in 2014, after residents of the region refused to recognise the new Ukrainian government.
In 2015, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the leaders of the Normandy Four group (France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine) was reached in Minsk, but the situation has remained tense, with both parties accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.