Russia Starts Forming 22nd Aid Convoy to East Ukraine - Ministry

The Russian Emergencies Ministry began forming 22nd humanitarian aid convoy to Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) started forming the 22nd humanitarian aid convoy for war-hit eastern Ukraine that will include seeds for the spring field works, an EMERCOM's crisis management center spokesperson said Saturday.

"It is planned that the next convoy to Donetsk and Luhansk regions will, in particular, deliver seeds of barley, sunflower and corn," the EMERCOM spokesperson told reporters, adding the the cargo will be delivered to eastern Ukraine next week.

The delivery of this specific kind of cargo was agreed on to help farmers in eastern Ukrainian prepare for the year's first planting season.

The seeds and fertilizers, supplied by the previous Russian aid convoys were immediately distributed between the areas of Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics, where the spring sowing has already begun, the authorities of the two breakaway Ukrainian regions said.

The preparation of 22nd humanitarian aid convoy came shortly after over 170 trucks delivered 1,900 metric tons of food, medicine, and construction materials to Donbas on Thursday.

In total, Russia sent over 27,000 metric tons of humanitarian cargo to the residents of Donbas since August 2014.

Ukraine's eastern regions have been on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe due to a military offensive launched by Kiev authorities against the independence supporters in April 2014.