The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia plans to reduce number of 'humanitarian convoys' for the Donbas
Beginning in April, convoys with "humanitarian assistance" for residents of the southeast of Ukraine will be sent once a month instead of two, RIA Novosti reported citing the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia Vladimir Artamonov.
"From April, there will only be one convoy per month, and not two, as per usual," Artamonov said.
According to Artamonov, this is due to "sufficient satisfaction of the needs" of residents of the southeast of Ukraine, adding that he means "food and medicine".
The previous, 61st convoy with "humanitarian" cargo arrived in the separatist-held territories of the Donbas on February 28. According to the Russian side, the next cargo shipments will be sent on March 16 and 23, and then on April 27.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that the 61st so-called "humanitarian convoy" traveled to the Donbas with a gross violation of the norms of international and Ukrainian legislation.
The Russian side stated that the convoy consisted of 25 cars with more than 300 tons of cargo.
Until the end of February, Moscow did not send its "humanitarian convoys" to the separatist-held part of the Donbass for almost two months. The 60th convoy, which the Russian Emergencies Ministry called "jubilee", arrived on February 21. The last before it, the 59th, crossed the border of Ukraine on December 22, 2016.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry repeatedly demanded that Russia stop the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty under the pretext of delivering "humanitarian aid". Ukraine notes that, by introducing such "humanitarian convoys" without the consent and permission of the Ukrainian side, Russia grossly violates Ukrainian and international legislation.