Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid sets off for Ukraine
- 10 years ago
Russian convoy of 280 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Ukraine set off on Tuesday (August 12) amid Western warnings against using help as a pretext for an invasion.
With Ukraine reporting Russia has massed 45,000 troops on its border, NATO said there was a "high probability" that Moscow could intervene militarily in the country's east, where Kiev's forces are closing in on pro-Russian separatists.
Western countries believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin - who has whipped up the passions of Russians with a nationalist campaign in state-controlled media since annexing Crimea from Ukraine in March - could now send his forces into the east to head off a rebel defeat.
Itar Tass news agency said the convoy has departed from near Moscow which means it would take it a couple of days to arrive in east Ukraine, some 1,000 km (620 miles) to the southwest.
With Ukraine reporting Russia has massed 45,000 troops on its border, NATO said there was a "high probability" that Moscow could intervene militarily in the country's east, where Kiev's forces are closing in on pro-Russian separatists.
Western countries believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin - who has whipped up the passions of Russians with a nationalist campaign in state-controlled media since annexing Crimea from Ukraine in March - could now send his forces into the east to head off a rebel defeat.
Itar Tass news agency said the convoy has departed from near Moscow which means it would take it a couple of days to arrive in east Ukraine, some 1,000 km (620 miles) to the southwest.