MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. Russian servicemen ensured the security of a convoy that delivered 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the city of Melitopol, according to the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
"Through the border checkpoint in the Republic of Crimea, Russian military personnel delivered another batch of humanitarian cargo with a total volume of around 20 tonnes to the territory of Ukraine. Russian military personnel ensured the safety of the humanitarian convoy," the ministry said.
The delivered cargo included essential products - baby food, cereals, canned meat and fish, vegetables.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had decided to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territories.