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Ukraine crisis: Impasse over Russian aid convoy Ukraine crisis: Russian army vehicles seen near border
(about 3 hours later)
A controversial Russian convoy remains parked near Ukraine's border, still awaiting permission for the aid it is carrying to be taken to violence-racked rebel-held cities in Ukraine's east. Around a dozen Russian light tanks have been seen heading for the Ukrainian border, as a Russian aid convoy remains parked near the frontier.
Red Cross officials are in Kiev trying to negotiate its passage. The BBC saw the tanks early on Friday morning, but there was no confirmation that they were going to Ukraine.
Ukraine, which fears the convoy may carry military supplies for the rebels, insists it be independently checked. Two other reporters say they have seen Russian army vehicles entering Ukraine.
Meanwhile, two UK newspaper reporters said they had witnessed Russian military vehicles entering Ukraine. The convoy is still awaiting permission to take its cargo to cities held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine which have been wracked by violence.
Journalists from the Guardian and the Telegraph said a column of more than 20 armoured personnel carriers with soldiers on board had crossed the border. Red Cross officials are in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for talks on the convoy.
Ukraine, which fears the convoy may carry military supplies for the rebels, has threatened to block it unless it is independently checked.
Meanwhile, journalists from the Guardian and the Telegraph said a column of more than 20 armoured personnel carriers with soldiers on board had crossed the border.
Russia's government has consistently denied directly arming or training pro-Russian rebels, who sparked the conflict in April when they took control of several cities in eastern Ukraine.Russia's government has consistently denied directly arming or training pro-Russian rebels, who sparked the conflict in April when they took control of several cities in eastern Ukraine.
The conflict, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks.The conflict, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks.
On Thursday, there was heavy shelling in the rebel stronghold cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.On Thursday, there was heavy shelling in the rebel stronghold cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
And the rebels announced that their main military commander Igor Girkin - known as Strelkov - had resigned.And the rebels announced that their main military commander Igor Girkin - known as Strelkov - had resigned.
'Strictly humanitarian''Strictly humanitarian'
The humanitarian convoy of at least 260 lorries drove for nine hours on Thursday before parking in a field near the border.The humanitarian convoy of at least 260 lorries drove for nine hours on Thursday before parking in a field near the border.
Russia dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy was a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels.Russia dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy was a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels.
But Ukraine insisted on an inspection by international monitors.
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said that if this did not happen, "movement of the convoy will be blocked with all the forces available".
Red Cross official Laurent Corbaz, in Kiev to discuss the convoy, said the Red Cross had a "strictly humanitarian role" and that "the delivery of aid should not be politicised".Red Cross official Laurent Corbaz, in Kiev to discuss the convoy, said the Red Cross had a "strictly humanitarian role" and that "the delivery of aid should not be politicised".
Red Cross spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk said the convoy was "south of the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinski" and that the Red Cross had been in contact with the Russian representatives.Red Cross spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk said the convoy was "south of the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinski" and that the Red Cross had been in contact with the Russian representatives.
She said there was still no agreement on the issues of border crossing procedures and customs clearance.She said there was still no agreement on the issues of border crossing procedures and customs clearance.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the convoy, says the key question now is what Russia will do next - if it takes the convoy across the border, it will be seen by the Ukrainian authorities as a major provocation.The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the convoy, says the key question now is what Russia will do next - if it takes the convoy across the border, it will be seen by the Ukrainian authorities as a major provocation.
Ukraine is sending its own 75-lorry aid convoy to the east and Mr Corbaz said that too was being discussed in Kiev.Ukraine is sending its own 75-lorry aid convoy to the east and Mr Corbaz said that too was being discussed in Kiev.
The US has issued another warning to Russia.The US has issued another warning to Russia.
State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "We've made that very clear to the Russians that they should not move these trucks in, without taking all of the steps the Ukrainian government has outlined."State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "We've made that very clear to the Russians that they should not move these trucks in, without taking all of the steps the Ukrainian government has outlined."
Ceasefire callCeasefire call
Heavy fighting continued on Thursday, with intense artillery shelling in both Luhansk and Donetsk.Heavy fighting continued on Thursday, with intense artillery shelling in both Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukrainian authorities said they had cut off Luhansk from other rebel-held areas after capturing the town of Novosvitlivka.Ukrainian authorities said they had cut off Luhansk from other rebel-held areas after capturing the town of Novosvitlivka.
Ms Harf said the US had "stressed the importance of showing restraint to minimise casualties among the civilian population".Ms Harf said the US had "stressed the importance of showing restraint to minimise casualties among the civilian population".
The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday called for an "urgent" ceasefire.The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday called for an "urgent" ceasefire.
The loss of Strelkov, meanwhile, represents the third high-profile resignation of rebel leaders in the past week.The loss of Strelkov, meanwhile, represents the third high-profile resignation of rebel leaders in the past week.
In Donetsk, the rebels' political leader Alexander Borodai handed over to Alexander Zakharchenko.
And Valery Bolotov, rebel commander in Luhansk, said he was temporarily handing over to Igor Plotnitskiy.
Mr Borodai said reports that Strelkov, a Russian citizen, had been injured were "total rubbish".
Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict in the east began in mid-April, more than half of them in the past two weeks, the UN says.Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict in the east began in mid-April, more than half of them in the past two weeks, the UN says.
The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence.The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence.
The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June.The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March in a move that drew international condemnation.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March in a move that drew international condemnation.
Mr Putin said Russia's goal was "to stop bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible".Mr Putin said Russia's goal was "to stop bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible".
He said Russia should not "fence itself off from the outside world" although he said Russia would "not allow anyone to treat us with arrogance".He said Russia should not "fence itself off from the outside world" although he said Russia would "not allow anyone to treat us with arrogance".
On Thursday it emerged that Russia's largest oil company, Rosneft, had asked the Russian government for more than $40bn (£24bn) in order to help it weather the impact of Western sanctions.
Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details.Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details.