You're reading: Arrival of Russia’s humanitarian convoy to Donbas violates Ukrainian law, says foreign ministry

The humanitarian aid from Russia to Donbas residents was delivered in violation of Ukrainian law, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reported.

‘Ukraine several times informed Russia that humanitarian aid is to be delivered only in line with Ukrainian law and generally accepted international practice,’ reads a statement of the Foreign Ministry.

According to the statement, cargos and vehicles are to pass customs control with Ukrainian border and fiscal agencies when entering and leaving Ukraine.

‘The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a competent specialized nongovernmental organization receives, delivers and distributes international humanitarian aid among civilian population of some districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The list of goods passed by Russia contained goods, which in line with the Ukrainian law on humanitarian aid cannot be declared humanitarian aid. Taking this into account, and with the purpose of not allowing the delivery of arms, military hardware, ammunition and military goods to Ukraine, a group of border and fiscal services of Ukraine monitored the movement of the Russian humanitarian convoy via the Ukrainian border at the Russian checkpoints Donetsk and Matveyev Kurgan,’ reads the statement.

Russia did not pass the cargo to the ICRC, and the committee was not involved in its delivery and distribution among the public.

‘The conditions of sending foreign humanitarian aid to Ukraine are common for all donors. Russia cannot act as an exception,’ reads the statement.