Russia to Send Two Humanitarian Convoys to East Ukraine This Week

Russia will send two additional humanitarian convoys to eastern Ukraine.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia will send two additional humanitarian convoys to crisis-hit regions in eastern Ukraine this week, the Emergencies Ministry said Thursday.

According to the ministry's statement, the convoys will be sent to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics on March 13 and March 15 in line with international norms.

The humanitarian cargo will include food supplies and construction materials, as well as supplies for work during spring sowing season, the ministry said.

Ukraine's Donbas has been suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis since Kiev launched a military operation against local independence supporters in April 2014.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry delivered more than 24,000 metric tons of aid since last August to the war-torn regions in eastern Ukraine.

On Saturday, yet another Russian aid convoy of more than 20 trucks returned back to Russia after bringing some 200 metric tons of food and medicines to the families of the victims of the Zasyadko mine explosion, which killed 33 people.