August 13, 2014

Is the Russian aid convoy a Trojan horse?

located:	Russia, Ukraine
editor:	Vanessa Ellingham

More than 100 trucks carrying Russian aid supplies are on their way towards Eastern Ukraine, but there is fear that this could be used as a pretext for military invasion.

The military trucks, hastily repainted white for the mission by Russian soldiers, were said to be carrying humanitarian supplies for Eastern Ukrainian residents trapped by fighting.

But the final destination of the convoy has not been made public and this is only adding to suspicion - no clear objective, no clear destination.

The UN's human rights office today recognised an escalation of violence in Eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. They said that the death toll in Eastern Ukraine has doubled in the past fortnight, with "very conservative estimates" suggesting the toll sat at 2086 at the beginning of this week.

The convoy of aid trucks are set to reach Eastern Ukraine on Thursday and Russia has agreed to conditions set by Ukraine - such as that the convoy must be inspected by international monitors before it can be let in.

The Red Cross, which Russia said it was coordinating with when it announced the aid mission, said on Wednesday that they were definitely not in charge of the mission, and had not had any clarity on practical details.

But those trucks - which aren't carrying any license plates - are brandishing Red Cross flags.