ROSTOV-ON-DON (Sputnik) – Russia's 24th humanitarian aid convoy for east Ukrainian Donbass region has left the Don rescue centre and is moving towards the border with Ukraine, Russian Emergencies Ministry said Thursday.
"At around 04:00 [02:00 GMT] the convoy headed towards the Donetsk and Matveev Kurgan checkpoints," the ministry's spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
As many as 120 vehicles will deliver more than 1,400 tonnes (1,543 tons) of aid, including food, construction materials and educational literature for students.
Donbass residents are on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe because of the military operation that Kiev launched in southeastern Ukraine in April, 2014, to suppress local independence supporters who refused to recognize the coup-imposed Ukrainian government.
Overall, Russia has delivered over 30,000 metric tons of aid to the people of Donetsk and Lugansk since August, 2014.
