Ukraine Guards Begin To Inspect Russian Aid

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <header class="story__header" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="story__standfirst" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 64%;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Border guards begin to inspect a large convoy of Russian lorries purporting to carry humanitarian aid supplies to Ukraine.</span></div> <div class="last-updated" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 40%; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-align: right;"> <div class="last-updated__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"> <span class="last-updated__time" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">11:24, UK,</span></span><span class="last-updated__day" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="last-updated__day" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Friday 15</span> <span class="last-updated__month-year" style="box-sizing: border-box;">August 2014</span></div> </div> </header><div class="story__content-outer-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; padding: 0px 332px 0px 0px; width: 992px;"> <section class="story__media" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="module module--primary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; width: 660px;"> <div class="module gallery gallery--4x3" style="-webkit-transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__position" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 10px; padding: 495px 16px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 0px; width: 660px; z-index: 99;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="js-gallery-current" style="box-sizing: border-box;">7</span>/<span class="js-gallery-total" style="box-sizing: border-box;">15</span></span></div> <div class="gallery__container" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 66000px;"> <ol aria-labelledby="gallery__teaser--1319127" class="gallery__list" style="-webkit-transform: translateX(-7%); box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 66000px;"> <li aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__item gallery__item--last gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329583/default/v2/2014-08-14t145949z-1244615952-gm1ea8e1r0m01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329583/default/v2/2014-08-14t145949z-1244615952-gm1ea8e1r0m01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian servicemen in Vuhlehirsk</span></div> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--first gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329584/default/v2/2014-08-14t150243z-1049800020-gm1ea8e1r1801-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329584/default/v2/2014-08-14t150243z-1049800020-gm1ea8e1r1801-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armoured personnel carrier as they patrol the area around the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhlehirsk</span></div> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329586/default/v2/2014-08-14t150041z-1393741247-gm1ea8e1rrg01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329586/default/v2/2014-08-14t150041z-1393741247-gm1ea8e1rrg01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A local woman stands near buildings damaged during a fight between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists in Vuhlehirsk</span></div> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329590/default/v2/2014-08-14t151627z-1449292801-gm1ea8e1sbe01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329590/default/v2/2014-08-14t151627z-1449292801-gm1ea8e1sbe01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329585/default/v2/2014-08-14t150721z-1703759457-gm1ea8e1r2i01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329585/default/v2/2014-08-14t150721z-1703759457-gm1ea8e1r2i01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329589/default/v2/2014-08-14t151748z-1356760983-gm1ea8e1r2201-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329589/default/v2/2014-08-14t151748z-1356760983-gm1ea8e1r2201-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--inactive" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329588/default/v2/2014-08-14t150325z-588110432-gm1ea8e1r1v01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329588/default/v2/2014-08-14t150325z-588110432-gm1ea8e1r1v01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 4.125rem 15px 16px;"> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian servicemen wave while on patrol in Vuhlehirsk</span></div> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--active" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 495px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 495px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 660px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329578/default/v2/2014-08-14t144844z-552503134-gm1ea8e1qwq01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/15/329578/default/v2/2014-08-14t144844z-552503134-gm1ea8e1qwq01-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 495px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> <div> <br /></div> </div> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </section></div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian guards have started to inspect a Russian cargo convoy of humanitarian aid at the border. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The border guards are checking the cargo on Russian territory at a point opposite the Ukrainian settlement of Izvaryne, held by separatists, a border spokesman said. </span></div> </span><div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Ukrainian border guards are there already in large numbers," said border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko.</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As the guards began to inspect the convoy, a dozen Russian armoured trucks waited near to the aid lorries. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukraine has spoken of its concerns that the convoy of about 260 vehicles will be used as a</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/606297/Trojan-horse" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(203, 203, 203); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">'Trojan horse'</span></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">, allowing Russia to establish a permanent presence in the east.</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <div> <section class="story__content" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 80px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 18.75rem; position: relative;"><div class="image image--inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/14/329403/default/v2/2014-08-14t123926z-829778289-gm1ea8e1la801-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-shelling-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/14/329403/default/v2/2014-08-14t123926z-829778289-gm1ea8e1la801-rtrmadp-3-ukraine-crisis-shelling-1-480x360.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> <div class="image__caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Buildings were damaged during heavy shelling in Donetsk</span></div> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In an effort to ease tensions, Russian emergency services officials allowed journalists covering the convoy to see the contents of trucks of their choosing.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Among the supplies the journalists saw were bottles of water, sacks of buckwheat and portable generators.</span></div> <div class="module module--inline video" data-format-high="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/700/2014/08/140814DONETSKKILEYVT21001408048903925700.mp4" data-format-low="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/374/2014/08/140814DONETSKKILEYVT21001408048903925374.mp4" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; width: 540px;"> <div class="video__placeholder-wrapper js-video" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 0px; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item video__teaser-image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/14/329446/default/v2/convoy-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/14/329446/default/v2/convoy-1-942x530.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 303px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <button aria-labelledby="video__caption-1318847" class="video__play--icon" style="background-image: url(http://news.sky.com/images/ffa94923.play-icon.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: none; bottom: 8px; cursor: pointer; height: 46px; left: 7px; margin: 0px; position: absolute; width: 46px;"><span class="video__play-a11y" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; text-align: left; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Play video</span></span></span></button></div> <span class="video__caption" id="video__caption-1318847" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 540px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="video__type" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Video:</span> <span class="video__teaser" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Russian Convoy 'Heads To Ukraine'</span></span></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last night there were reports a smaller group of Russian vehicles, including armoured cars, had already crossed the border.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The reports suggested the vehicles had entered Ukraine at an obscure border crossing near the Russian town of Donetsk.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have suffered dramatic setbacks after top military chiefs quit and Kiev's forces pummelled their strongholds.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The rebels said their main military chief, Igor Strelkov, had resigned.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Their rebel commander in the second-biggest insurgent stronghold of Luhansk, Valery Bolotov, also said he was "temporarily" stepping down because of injuries.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The announcements came after Ukraine's military said it had completely surrounded Luhansk, cutting all links to the border with Russia.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kiev believes Russia has been supplying the insurgents with weapons.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The separatist leadership has showed signs of unravelling following four months of fighting that have left more than 2,000 dead.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> <br /></div> </section><section class="partner-links" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 60px; max-width: 540px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="partner-links__external" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </div> </section></div> </div> </div>

Ukraine Guards Begin To Inspect Russian Aid

Border guards begin to inspect a large convoy of Russian lorries purporting to carry humanitarian aid supplies to Ukraine. 11:24, UK...

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