MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. The Russian National Guard has delivered more than 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid for residents of Ukraine’s Kiev Region, its press service told TASS on Wednesday.

"Employees and military of Russian National Guard units have handed over more than 20 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes to residents of the Kiev Region. National Guard officers distributed food packages - cereals, canned food, pasta, vegetable oil, sugar, baby food, as well as medicines and essentials," the report said.

During the special military operation to protect civilians of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, National Guard units liberate local settlements from nationalist units, as well as ensure security and law and order, protection of the population against criminals and marauders on the liberated territories.

They play a specific role in ensuring the protection of vital infrastructure facilities and transport communications, including the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants among them, as well as the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. "Besides, National Guard officers assist civilians in establishing peaceful life, as well as protect and escort convoys with humanitarian cargoes," the press service said.

Tensions escalated along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine on February 17. The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics reported the heaviest shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in months. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on recognizing the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to an aid request from the Donbass republics. DPR and LPR started a military operation to liberate their territories controlled by Kiev.