After major delays, Ukraine begins customs inspection of Russian aid trucks

KIEV, Ukraine, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian government announced Thursday that the customs clearance process for the first batch of Russian aid trucks has begun.

Confirmation came from the Ukrainian border guard service and the National Security and Defense Council.

"At 14.15 (2:15 p.m. local time), Ukrainian border guards and customs officers began the clearance of the first truck in the service area of the Donetsk border crossing point in the Rostov region," said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

The first 16 aid trucks in the 270-vehicle Russian aid convoy passed through a Russian border checkpoint on Wednesday.

According to the agreed-upon procedures -- overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross -- the Russian convoy will make its way in batches to the border of Ukraine. Each Russian truck will have one Russian driver and will be escorted by Red Cross officials. Once the trucks reach Luhansk, the trucks will unload their cargo, at which point the Red Cross will take possession of the cargo. The aid will be distributed by Red Cross teams to needy communities in eastern Ukraine.

The Russia aid convoy departed Moscow on August 12 without necessary approval from the Red Cross or permission from the Ukrainian government, heightening suspicion about the cargo's true contents and Russia's intention. The trucks were holding near the border in the Russian town of Rostov while agreements amongst the Red Cross, Russia and Ukraine were worked out.