US representative to OSCE: Russia’s ‘humanitarian convoys' to Donbas confirm its involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine
Last week, Russia brought a convoy of trucks, transporting unknown cargo into Ukraine, providing strong evidence of Moscow's involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Donbas, as stated by the US Chargé d'Affaires at the US Mission to the OSCE, Harry Kamian, on Thursday at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Ukrinform reports.
"Considerable evidence of Russia’s involvement in the conflict remains. On October 26th, a 17-truck convoy crossed the internationally-recognized border from Russia to Ukraine without proper control or inspection by Ukrainian authorities. These convoys continue in clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," the US representative stressed.
He also noted that the Russian campaign aimed at blocking the access of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) surveillance teams up to the Russian-Ukrainian border, prevents the Mission from fulfilling its mandate.
In addition, the American diplomat stressed that after the introduction of the so-called Back to School truce, the ceasefire has been ruthlessly violated. As a result, on October 27th, a 25-year-old civilian was killed in the fighting near the city of Donetsk.
Russia has been delivering "humanitarian aid" to the Donbas in violation of international norms. Ukraine and the international community believe that this is how the Kremlin provides weapons and other assistance to militants.