You're reading: Work of Ukrainian border guards and customs officers on clearance on humanitarian aid at Russia’s Donetsk checkpoint blocked (UPDATED)

The State Border Service of Ukraine has said that the work of Ukrainian border guards and customs officers on the clearance of Russian humanitarian aid at the Russian Donetsk checkpoint has been blocked.

“The work of Ukrainian border guards and customs officers is being blocked, and further clearance of the trucks carrying with humanitarian cargo is carried out without our participation,” the service’s press office told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the service, on Aug. 21 the Ukrainians started clearing the first part of the Russian aid. “In all, 34 people in 34 transport vehicles have been cleared,” the spokesperson said.

“However, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement alleging that the process of the goods being cleared by the Ukrainians is being protracted, and said they will deliver the cargo to Luhansk themselves. By now, the cleared trucks have started moving into Ukraine, while the Ukrainian border-customs group has been blocked at the Russian Donetsk checkpoint,” the spokesperson said.

He added that the Russian convoy is moving unaccompanied by representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), thus ignoring “the reached agreements over cargo clearance.”