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Ukraine crisis: Russia 'to send new aid convoy' Ukraine crisis: 'Column from Russia' moves on Mariupol
(about 2 hours later)
Russia plans to send another humanitarian convoy into eastern Ukraine "in the next few days", Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. The Ukrainian military says it is battling rebel armoured vehicles that crossed from Russia and headed to the south-eastern city of Mariupol.
Mr Lavrov said the humanitarian situation there was "deteriorating". It said the column was halted near the town of Novoazovsk.
Ukraine did not authorise the first convoy, which returned to Russia at the weekend, fearing it carried military equipment for pro-Russia separatists. One military commander said pro-Russian rebels might be trying to open up a new southern front.
Ukrainian officials said a column of armoured vehicles crossed from Russia on Monday, sparking heavy clashes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he not heard the reports but complained of regular "disinformation about our 'incursions'".
The crossing was reported close to the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. He also said Russia planned to send another humanitarian convoy into eastern Ukraine "in the next few days" as the humanitarian situation there was "deteriorating".
"The Ukrainian border has been breached by a convoy of several dozen tanks and armoured vehicles," security spokesman Leonid Matyukhin told Agence France-Presse. Its first convoy, which returned at the weekend, crossed the border without Ukraine's authorisation. Ukraine feared the convoy was carrying military equipment to the pro-Russian separatists and denounced it as an invasion.
"The convoy has been stopped by border guards... The battle is ongoing."
More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. Some 330,00 people have been displaced.More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. Some 330,00 people have been displaced.
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to meet in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday for talks on the crisis.The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to meet in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday for talks on the crisis.
'Armoured column' 'Enough resources'
Mr Lavrov said he had sent a note to the Ukrainian foreign ministry on Sunday informing it of the new convoy. Ukraine's military said border guards had halted the column about 5km (3 miles) north-east of Novoazovsk, which is about 10km from the border in the far south-east of Ukraine.
Heavy clashes were reported at the village of Markyne.
One commander of a Ukrainian national guard unit in the area told Reuters news agency: "A war has broken out here."
Ukrainian sources said the armoured vehicles had crossed the border bearing symbols of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic. Officials said 10 tanks and two armoured personnel carriers were in the column although other reports said the number of vehicles was as high as 30.
Mariupol, a major port on the Azov Sea, is in the hands of Ukrainian government forces, who ousted rebels from the city in June after weeks of fighting.
A Ukrainian military spokesman said government forces still controlled Mariupol and the road to Novoazovsk.
Spokesman Andriy Lysenko said it was an attempt "by the Russian military in the guise of Donbass fighters (rebels) to open a new area of military confrontation". But there were enough resources to repel any attack, he added.
When asked about the column, Mr Lavrov said: "I have not heard of this, but there is plenty of disinformation out there about our 'incursions'."
Ukraine and Western powers have accused Russia of arming the rebels, charges Moscow has denied.
There have been several previous reports of armoured vehicles crossing Ukraine's eastern border.
'Fascists'
Mr Lavrov said he had also sent a note to the Ukrainian foreign ministry on Sunday informing it of the new convoy.
He told a news conference on Monday: "The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating.He told a news conference on Monday: "The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating.
"We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route... in the coming days.""We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route... in the coming days."
Russia said the first convoy had delivered generators, food and drink.Russia said the first convoy had delivered generators, food and drink.
Ukrainian sources said a column of about 30 armoured vehicles had entered from Russia close to the port city of Mariupol on Monday, bearing symbols of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic.
Mariupol is in the hands of Ukrainian government forces, who ousted rebels in May.
When asked about the column, Mr Lavrov said: "I have not heard of this, but there is plenty of disinformation out there about our 'incursions'."
Ukraine and Western powers have accused Russia of arming the rebels, charges Moscow has denied.
There have been several previous reports of armoured vehicles crossing the border.
Asked about Tuesday's presidential meeting, Mr Lavrov said: "We are ready... for any format as long as there is a result," adding that Russia wanted "to help Ukrainians agree among themselves".Asked about Tuesday's presidential meeting, Mr Lavrov said: "We are ready... for any format as long as there is a result," adding that Russia wanted "to help Ukrainians agree among themselves".
Mr Lavrov also commented on the parading of captured Ukrainian government soldiers by rebels through the centre of Donetsk on Sunday.Mr Lavrov also commented on the parading of captured Ukrainian government soldiers by rebels through the centre of Donetsk on Sunday.
Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by.Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by.
Mr Lavrov said this was "nowhere near mistreatment" and that Ukrainian fighters' actions often amounted to "war crimes".Mr Lavrov said this was "nowhere near mistreatment" and that Ukrainian fighters' actions often amounted to "war crimes".
"I saw images of that parade and I didn't see anything close to what could be considered as humiliating," he said."I saw images of that parade and I didn't see anything close to what could be considered as humiliating," he said.
The violence in east Ukraine erupted in April when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev. This followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.The violence in east Ukraine erupted in April when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev. This followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.