The head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, has said the crossing of the country's border by the Russian humanitarian aid is a Russian invasion.
"We call it a direct invasion. These are military vehicles with documents for disguise under the cynical cover of the Red Cross," he told journalists in Kiev on Friday.
"What we have witnessed in the last few days is a carefully planned and dangerously risky provocation against Ukraine, with the use of the well-respected international organization of the Red Cross," the security chief said.
He claims that over 30 trucks have "illegally started off" into Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday that the convoy carrying the Russian aid had started moving towards Lugansk.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), Raisa Lukutsova, told Interfax that the RCC supports the movement towards Lugansk and is ready to accompany the convoy.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Subscribe
to our newsletter!
Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox