Russian aid convoy almost ready to enter Ukraine

As the Ukrainian military continues to consolidate its control over eastern Ukraine, an aid convoy sent from Moscow is being checked for contraband by Ukrainian border guards.

Reuters says the inspections of the 260-truck convoy began Aug. 21, at 2:15 p.m. local time.  The convoy had been waiting at the border for permission to enter Ukraine for around a week.

The convoy did not have permission to enter Ukraine because the Ukrainians feared it was a pretext for Russian intervention, or that the convoy was carrying weapons and other supplies the now desperate separatists need. The convoy also was not granted permission to enter Ukraine because it had not gone through the process necessary to be certified by the Red Cross.

The inspections of the convoy are taking place only on the Russian side of the border, according to Reuters. Although the territory where the border crossing is located is under rebel control, the rebels granted Ukrainian border officials safe access to the crossing so they could evaluate the contents of each truck.

The aid is meant primarily for the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, centers of rebel opposition to the government in Kiev. Due to a Ukrainian military siege in Luhansk, the city has gone 19 days without water, electricity or telecommunications links to the rest of the country, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian military recently made significant gains in Luhansk, driving out the rebels from their headquarters at the local police station. There are still reports of fighting in Luhansk despite these gains.

In Donetsk, the city is still hotly contested. It has seen numerous gunfights in addition to air and artillery strikes.

Once the convoy passes Ukrainian inspections, 35 members from the Red Cross will oversee the distribution of the aid.

More than 2,000 people have died in the fighting so far.