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Ukraine crisis: Russian aid convoy arrives at border | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Lorries from a Russian convoy carrying aid to eastern Ukraine have reached a border post controlled by separatists. | |
But they seem unlikely to cross into Ukraine immediately as the Red Cross said it had still not received security guarantees for the convoy to continue. | |
Earlier Ukraine's military said that separatists had shot down a government fighter jet near the rebel-held city of Luhansk in the east of the country. | |
A military spokesman said the pilot had ejected and was safe. | A military spokesman said the pilot had ejected and was safe. |
Later the Russian, Ukrainian, German and French foreign ministers are scheduled to hold talks on the eastern Ukraine crisis in Berlin. | Later the Russian, Ukrainian, German and French foreign ministers are scheduled to hold talks on the eastern Ukraine crisis in Berlin. |
Ukrainian Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said government forces had taken a rebel-controlled police station in Luhansk and raised the Ukrainian flag "after a battle for... a residential district". | Ukrainian Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said government forces had taken a rebel-controlled police station in Luhansk and raised the Ukrainian flag "after a battle for... a residential district". |
Rebel sources said that 10 civilians had been killed in the city of Donetsk over the past 24 hours as government forces continue an offensive. | Rebel sources said that 10 civilians had been killed in the city of Donetsk over the past 24 hours as government forces continue an offensive. |
More than 2,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukraine's new government sent troops to put down an uprising by pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | More than 2,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukraine's new government sent troops to put down an uprising by pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
Convoy 'legal' | Convoy 'legal' |
The government plane had been shot down after launching an attack "to eliminate a large group of rebels", Ukrainian military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said, quoted by AFP news agency. | The government plane had been shot down after launching an attack "to eliminate a large group of rebels", Ukrainian military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said, quoted by AFP news agency. |
The pilot ejected from the aircraft safely and rescuers delivered him to a safe location, the spokesman added. | The pilot ejected from the aircraft safely and rescuers delivered him to a safe location, the spokesman added. |
Meanwhile some 16 vehicles from the 280-lorry Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine were seen arriving at the border. | |
The Red Cross, quoted by Reuters news agency, said Ukrainian and Russian customs officials had agreed to inspect the lorries. | |
But the Izvaryne crossing where the vehicles have arrived is controlled by rebels, so it is not clear how Ukrainian officials will reach them. | |
Kiev has insisted that any aid sent to eastern Ukraine from Russia should cross a government-controlled part of the border. | |
Also, Ukraine's Security Council tweeted that its border guards had not received any paperwork for the cargo. | |
The convoy has been parked near the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky for several days after setting out from near Moscow on Tuesday, said to be carrying 2,000 tonnes of aid. | The convoy has been parked near the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky for several days after setting out from near Moscow on Tuesday, said to be carrying 2,000 tonnes of aid. |
Russian officials quoted by Russia's Ria news agency said that lorries were being sent out in small groups to avoid causing traffic jams, but there were no plans for any of them to cross the border on Sunday. | Russian officials quoted by Russia's Ria news agency said that lorries were being sent out in small groups to avoid causing traffic jams, but there were no plans for any of them to cross the border on Sunday. |
The Ukrainian government said late on Saturday that it had declared the convoy "legal", but Red Cross officials speaking at the time said it had still not been given clearance because of some outstanding security issues. | The Ukrainian government said late on Saturday that it had declared the convoy "legal", but Red Cross officials speaking at the time said it had still not been given clearance because of some outstanding security issues. |
There had been fears expressed by Ukraine and by Western governments that the convoy could be carrying arms for the rebels or could be used as a pretext by Russia for military action. | There had been fears expressed by Ukraine and by Western governments that the convoy could be carrying arms for the rebels or could be used as a pretext by Russia for military action. |
Russia has denied any military involvement with the convoy. | Russia has denied any military involvement with the convoy. |
But on Sunday Mr Lysenko said a convoy of rocket launchers had been seen crossing from Russia into Ukraine. | But on Sunday Mr Lysenko said a convoy of rocket launchers had been seen crossing from Russia into Ukraine. |
On Thursday two Western journalists reporting seeing military hardware entering Ukraine from Russia, but Russia has denied sending any weapons. | On Thursday two Western journalists reporting seeing military hardware entering Ukraine from Russia, but Russia has denied sending any weapons. |