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Convoy Stays on Russian Side of Border With Ukraine Inspections of Russian Aid Shipments Set to Begin
(35 minutes later)
KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKY, Russia — A convoy of more than 250 Russian trucks said to be carrying humanitarian supplies remained at a field camp some 30 miles from the Ukrainian border on Friday, and officials from Russia’s emergency services said that inspections by Ukrainian border guard services had not begun. KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKY, Russia — The Ukrainian military announced Friday that border guards have begun checking the contents of a convoy of more than 250 Russian trucks said to be carrying humanitarian supplies, but other officials said the trucks had not moved from a Russian military base where they are parked and inspections had not yet begun.
Sergey Karavaytsev of Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations told journalists at the field camp that while the trucks were ready to go at any time, negotiations about when and how the aid would be delivered to Ukraine were still inconclusive. In a statement posted on the military’s Facebook page, officials said that 59 customs officers would inspect the trucks on the Russian side of the border before the convoy would be allowed to proceed to Luhansk, currently controlled by pro-Russian separatists and suffering from shortages of food, water and electricity.
Ukrainian media reported earlier on Friday that inspections of the aid had begun, citing a Ukrainian official from the border service. The statement said the inspectors included 41 representatives from the country’s border control service and another 18 from customs.
If inspections by Ukrainian border service do take place, the Ukrainian official said, they will be at the border with Ukraine and not at the field camp. But other Ukrainian officials said that the trucks had not moved from the Russian army post to the border town where inspections are set to take place. The officials said that Ukraine was waiting for documents from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was in turn awaiting documents from Moscow.
The Ukrainian military issued a statement Friday morning saying that 59 customs inspectors had begun checking the cargo before it could be sent to the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. At the camp where the trucks spent the night, Russian officials and a contingent of young men dressed identically in beige hats, T-shirts and shorts allowed journalists to inspect trucks of their choice for a second straight day. None could say definitely when they would leave.
The statement, posted on the military’s Facebook page, said that the inspections had begun at 10 a.m. on the Russian side of the border. It said the inspectors included 41 representatives from the country’s border service and another 18 from customs.
At the camp, Russian officials and a contingent of young men dressed identically in beige hats, T-shirts and shorts allowed journalists to inspect trucks of their choice for a second straight day. None could say definitely when they would leave.
“A day, two days, two weeks, a month,” said Boris Pashenko, a border guard representative.“A day, two days, two weeks, a month,” said Boris Pashenko, a border guard representative.
The trucks are parked in a border zone close to several military bases, where columns of armored military vehicles driving in the direction of the Ukrainian border are a common sight. Two Western journalists reported seeing 23 armored vehicles crossing a border post into Ukraine on Thursday evening.The trucks are parked in a border zone close to several military bases, where columns of armored military vehicles driving in the direction of the Ukrainian border are a common sight. Two Western journalists reported seeing 23 armored vehicles crossing a border post into Ukraine on Thursday evening.
Ukraine and the United States have accused Russia of covertly arming pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.Ukraine and the United States have accused Russia of covertly arming pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Karavaytsev denied that the trucks in the convoy were from the military and said they were hired through private businesses. Masked guards who said they were military police officers also appeared at the camp site late Thursday evening. Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were also at the convoy’s field camp on Friday, Mr. Karavaytsev said.Mr. Karavaytsev denied that the trucks in the convoy were from the military and said they were hired through private businesses. Masked guards who said they were military police officers also appeared at the camp site late Thursday evening. Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were also at the convoy’s field camp on Friday, Mr. Karavaytsev said.