Aid convoy leaves Moscow for Ukraine
A long convoy of nearly 300 trucks has left Moscow for the Ukrainian city of Luhansk, with the ostensible purpose of providing aid and averting a humanitarian disaster.
The New York Times reports that 280 trucks left Moscow August 12 for a 600-mile journey to the Ukrainian border. The trip is expected to take several days.
The trucks are carrying 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid. The Times reports that the convoy is carrying 400 tons of cereals, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of baby food, 54 tons of medical equipment and medicine, 12,000 sleeping bags and 62 electrical generators of various sizes.
The Wire reports that it is highly unlikely that the Ukrainian authorities will allow the convoy to cross the border. There are fears that the humanitarian aid is actually a cynical ploy to justify the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
The head of NATO recently declared that it was extremely likely that Russia would invade, as it has positioned 45,000 soldiers near the joint Ukrainian-Russian border.
The Times reports that in addition to the 45,000 troops, 1,360 armored vehicles, 390 artillery systems, 150 truck-based rocket systems, 192 fighter jets and 137 helicopters are supporting the Russian forces.
Adding to the skepticism about the convoy is the fact that it has not been certified or approved by the International Red Cross. The Red Cross has said it received paperwork asking for their blessing, but all of the technical details have yet to be worked out.
A major barrier to the Red Cross approving the aid mission is that they have not received guarantees of their safety from either the Ukrainian military, or the pro-Russian separatists. The Red Cross does not accept armed guards for protection, so without such guarantees, it is unlikely to receive the Red Cross' formal approval.
