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THE FIRST LORRIES from Moscow’s controversial aid convoy to rebel-held parts of Ukraine began returning to Russia, OSCE monitors said.
Paul Picard, the acting head of the mission observing the Russian border post known as Donetsk, told AFP that some of the vehicles had begun passing through but could not provide a number. Russian news agencies reported that several dozen had arrived at the border.
The West rebuked Russia for sending scores of trucks from a controversial aid convoy to east Ukraine’s rebel-held Lugansk in a move Kiev described as an “invasion.”
The European Union and the United States demanded that Russia immediately withdraw the convoy, amid fears the cargo could shore up pro-Moscow rebels fighting Kiev’s forces.
Washington warned Russia it could face further sanctions, while the UN Security Council expressed concern the move could lead to an escalation in the four-month conflict.
Some 280 trucks from the Russian convoy had been waiting at the border with Ukraine for a week as Moscow pressed for the aid to be delivered urgently to civilians in areas that have come under Ukrainian shelling.
By evening, the trucks had all reached Lugansk and were unloading their cargo, Russian state television reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said further delay would have been “unacceptable” as he justified the decision in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who travels to Kiev today for talks with Ukraine’s leadership.
Merkel and US President Barack Obama warned that Moscow’s military presence and shelling were triggering a “dangerous escalation” of the conflict, and they demanded it remove the convoy.
In a telephone call, the pair “agreed that Russia sending a convoy into Ukraine without Ukraine’s approval is a further provocation and a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said.
A first group of trucks reached Lugansk, which has been without water and power for weeks, after making its way along a perilous route from the border, a local official said.
Invasion
Ukraine’s security service head Valentyn Nalyvaychenko condemned the entry as “a direct invasion” but said Ukraine will not order air strikes on the trucks.
Ukraine and Russia each said the other side was responsible for the convoy’s security between the border and rebel bastion Lugansk, 63 kilometres away, and Russia’s foreign ministry warned “against any attempts to disrupt a totally humanitarian mission.”
The UN Security Council met for urgent consultations, at Lithuania’s request, but Russia insisted the aid was desperately needed and accused Ukraine of using stalling tactics.
Aid
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin provided a list of the aid, including electric generators, sugar, tea and baby food, and scoffed at suggestions that these could have military purposes.
Analysts said Moscow is under pressure from the Russian public to show support for the Russian-speaking separatist regions, but that its unannounced convoy gambit was a big risk.
“Now the chances of direct military confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers is substantially higher,” said independent Moscow-based analyst Maria Lipman.
Moscow said it was ready to have Red Cross officials accompany the convoy, but the organisation backed out of the operation because of fierce fighting raging in the area where the trucks are heading.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen called Moscow’s decision an escalation of the Ukraine crisis that “can only lead to Russia’s further isolation.”
The United States urged Moscow to “immediately” withdraw the convoy. “Failure to do so will result in additional costs and isolation,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters.
Border guards blocked
Ukraine’s border service said its officials were “blocked” at the Russian checkpoint as the convoy started rolling across the border and had not checked many of the trucks.
UN officials told the Security Council in New York that only 34 of the 280 trucks had been inspected, leaving a question mark over the overwhelming bulk of the cargo.
The first vehicles to cross were met by an escort of rebels driving in minivans.
Lugansk has been under heavy shelling with civilian casualties.
Among the latest casualties was Lithuania’s honorary consul, who was “kidnapped and brutally killed” by the rebels who control the city, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said.
An “appalled and saddened” European Union said the incident added urgency for “Russia to immediately cease its actions destabilising Ukraine and to join our efforts to restore peace and security in Ukraine.”
After four months of fighting that has cost some 2,200 lives, Ukrainian forces have been steadily gaining ground with the separatists now surrounded in strongholds and street battles erupting in populated areas.
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This is how the Zombie Apocalypse starts.
No the park is closed, so the animals and insects will just stay in the park, won’t they
Lol M, this is the America F##K YEAH generation we’re talking about.
Bombers loaded with Napalm are being flown in as we speak.
You don’t f##k with America.
Cant wait, would bw some craic. I wonder will they be fast like the ones in 28days later or slow like the ones in dawn of the dead.
It is to be hoped so.
The War on Squirrels begins. They’re probably trained by Al Qaieda or Iran or North Korea or some commies..
The CIA are looking for WMDs
american zombies…they’ll be SLOW!
Phew! Flying squirrels with the AIDS would’ve been much more Hollywood – or is that the summer 2014 blockbuster sheeple worrier?
So long as they can read the signs telling them it’s closed…
Plague is the great leveller ; it was instrumental in changing Europe from a feudal system where the “lords” owned the people to one where the workers earned the right to ear money for labour !
And there’s only one cure ! The Bishop of Winchester knew that one!
Squirrels and fleas?? This article had me scratching my nuts after.
Another strategy to keep the American population scared. Why? Because a scared population is a controllable population.
Yes, an easily treatable illness will realy scare the bejesus out of them.
‘LA park evacuated after DEADLY plague virus detected in squirrel’
Sounds like a pretty scary headline to me regardless of the fact it’s easy to treat…
Niall, as the squirrel would say…you’re nuts…
Coming from a man who can hear squirrels talking?!
Niall…As the squirrel WOULD say…( if it could talk)…
Don’t tell me you think that I can hear squirrels talking??? This is much more serious than I thought. You’re not just nuts, you’re nut eile….lol
Thank god it was a squirrel and not a beaver – I like beavers !
Then you are one of the few on journal.ie. Very few beaver lovers on here hence the high quantity of bitchy comments on a daily basis.
Elks are the enemy of the beaver an the wolf is the enemy of the elk.
No wolf ; No beaver!
Emmet “Stagg” is an elk for example !
That’d be great excuse to get off work, “Sorry, I can’t come.in today because I have the plague.”
Wonna ask what happened to the squirrel but know I won’t like the answer
Treated for fleas…
Somebody phone Dustin Hoffman!!
Wait for it, the Americans will blame the Taliban or some other terrorists organisation. Some marine will shoot the squirrel and will be thanked for giving the citizens “their freedom”.
Dope
A tenner says they won’t… ;-)
I hope that the Smithwick’s squirrel has got the all clear ?
Surly just brushing his teeth and flossing well fix that problem in a jiffy?
Give him some boiled 7up and he’ll be grand
And some disprin. Sorted.
Go squirrels!!
Ah nuts
Useless story. One squirrel tested positive for a something they routinely look for? That’s someone doing their job not an outbreak. Ireland had three cases of yersiniosis last year (HSPC.ie) and shure we’re grannnndddd. #plaugeproof
The Great Barrier Reef last week ( bombed) this week the evil squirrel. What next, butterflies carrying the Plague virus?
Slight hint of paranoia I suspect.
Dope 2.0
Well done rotund, a valuable contribution from an obvious troll. ;)
Still smarting from being called a dope for your useless attempt at wit regarding marines and americans in general? Jog on son…
After reading your comment, the obvious lack of grammar proves to me that intellectually you are so far beneath me that I will not be responding to you.
Ha. Good one. Listen im sorry that your ‘hilarious’ quip about americans and marines wasnt as funny as you thought it was. Better luck next time. Im off to get grinds now ;)
Saucers of milk for the pair of you.
But but but Gary. By typing that, you DID respond.
I was under the impression that James Reilly got rid of the plague!!
God’s wrath? Gay marriage! Where’s Pat Robertson when an opportunity like this arises?
That’s how Elvis died, he ate a plague ridden squirrel
How does a bacteria which hasn’t reappeared in over 600years in Europe suddenly appear in the US? I’m probably wrong in this, any experts out there?
Its always been around it never went away.
It isn’t know if the black death was the bubonic plague or not, some info here if you’re interested:
http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/blog/the-black-death-is-now-likely-extinct-perhaps/
Just out of interest: How did they know the squirrel had the plague in the first place? Was it a random check or what?
Better set up a “Squirrel Patrol”, course that could bring a “Squirrel Tax”…..
Won’t someone think of the children!!
I wonder will the Yankees blame Iran or some other country in the the east for this.
Methinks another invasion I’d the answer.
Karl. A rather stupid comment. Plague carrying fleas can be found all around the world. The only reason there is not serious outbreaks is that modern antibiotics are quite capable of stopping the infection.
If Barack Obama had a squirrel it would look like Trayvon.
Someone has read Dan Browns inferno and got a bit excited!
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