LUHANSK/DONETSK, November 2 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian convoy is returning to Rostov region after delivering humanitarian aid to the crisis-hit city of Luhansk in the east of Ukraine, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said Sunday.
"The convoy that was delivering humanitarian cargo to Luhansk has been unloaded. The trucks are going back to the Russian border," Oleg Voronov, deputy chief of the crisis management center with the Russian Emergencies Ministry, said.
Meanwhile, the unloading of the trucks with the humanitarian aid in Donetsk is coming to a close.
"After that, the trucks will be made up into a convoy and will go back to [Russia's] Rostov Region," Voronov added.
Earlier in the day, Russia's convoy of 100 trucks was divided into two equal columns, delivering humanitarian cargo to Luhansk and Donetsk.
The convoy was carrying around 1,000 ton of aid, comprising food, building materials, fuel and medications.
Russia has previously sent four humanitarian convoys to eastern Ukraine. The previous convoy was delivered on October 31.
The military operation in the south-east of Ukraine, which was launched by Kiev authorities in mid-April to suppress independence supporters in Donetsk and Luhansk, resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in the region.
The local residents were left without food, drinking water and electricity, as the infrastructure has been systematically destroyed as a result of the fighting between the pro-Kiev forces and militias.
Since August, Russia has been sending humanitarian convoys of trucks carrying food, water, power generators, medication and warm clothes to help residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to replenish their stocks ahead of the winter.
