“An emergencies ministry convoy carrying humanitarian cargo will set off for Donetsk and Luhansk within the next 24 hours,” the ministry said. “The delivery of aid by an emergencies ministry convoy will help to stabilize the situation and avert a humanitarian disaster.”
Ahead of the convoy's arrival, social services in the affected areas of the breakaway Ukrainian republics have been setting up free canteens and aid distribution centers to help those in need of urgent assistance.
Russian officials hope that the new aid delivery will help "stabilize the situation and stave off a humanitarian disaster," the emergencies ministry's spokesperson told journalists.
Debaltseve has recently became a flashpoint for clashes between the Ukrainian government's army and militias, who are in control of the area.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from the town after self-defense forces encircled Ukrainian soldiers there for weeks. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the 2,500 troops that had been trapped in Debaltsevo, had left the area.
In total, Russia has provided more than 18,000 tons of humanitarian cargo to the conflict-hit regions since August 2014, specifically food, grain, water, clothes, medicine, power generators and building materials.
