A Russian convoy of 262 trucks packed with humanitarian aid is approaching the Ukrainian border amid fears that it might escalate the already tense situation in the war-ravaged east of the country. The aid convoy was expected on Wednesday at the volatile Ukraine’s border where pro-Russian forces and Ukrainian troops are engaged in fierce battles. Russian media say some 2,000 tons of aid, from baby... 

Ukraine has rejected Russia’s humanitarian aid convoy headed for the war-torn people in the country’s east, saying it is an excuse for invasion. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky told reporters on Tuesday that there would be no need for humanitarian aid if Russia stopped supporting the pro-Russia protesters. “The Red Cross is responsible and is coordinating the delivery of humanitarian... 

A residential building in downtown Donetsk damaged during the city’s artillery shelling by Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Kiev have agreed on a humanitarian mission under the authority of the Red Cross, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated. “With careful optimism, I can now say that, I think, all possible and impossible pretexts have been dismissed. I hope that in the very nearest... 

A massive Canadian transport plane has arrived in Kharkov carrying US$4.5 million worth of non-lethal military equipment to help Ukraine “protect its eastern border against Russian aggression.” The equipment includes “helmets, ballistic eyewear, protective vests, first aid kits, tents, and sleeping bags,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement on Thursday. Canada said it... 

The Ukrainian government has called on people in the country’s east to leave the flashpoint area as government troops close in on pro-Russia forces in the region. The Ukraine military called on pro-Russia forces in the eastern cities of Donetsk and Lugansk to open corridors to allow civilians to leave the area. The military also said its troops had already taken control of a checkpoint on the western... 

The eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk has declared a state of humanitarian catastrophe over a lack of medical supplies, electricity, lighting, mobile and internet communication. Some 250,000 civilians are unable to leave, the statement also says. “As of August 5, Lugansk remains disconnected from electricity. The situation remains critical on the city’s territory. Lugansk is has no energy, is... 

The command in Kiev has blatantly abandoned a group of more than 400 soldiers encircled by the self-defense forces, the senior Ukrainian officer who requested sanctuary in Russia with his men has revealed. Lack of ammunition, food, fuel and clear orders from the command on how to act in the condition of encirclement has made the Ukrainian troops cross the border, Major Vitaly Dubinyak, a battalion... 

Satellite images Kiev published as ‘proof’ it didn’t deploy anti-aircraft batteries around the MH17 crash site carry altered time-stamps and are from days after the MH17 tragedy, the Russian Defense Ministry has revealed. The images, which Kiev claims were taken by its satellites at the same time as those taken by Russian satellites, are neither Ukrainian nor authentic, according to a Moscow... 

Fierce clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces have killed 14 people, including 10 government soldiers in the volatile eastern regions of the country. Ukrainian military spokesman, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky, said Friday that clashes took place in the eastern town of Shakhtersk, some 25 kilometers away from the crash site of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. The spokesman added that the 10... 

In the past two days Kiev’s forces have launched several short-range ballistic missiles into areas in east Ukraine controlled by self-defense forces, CNN reports, citing US government sources. The move “marks a major escalation” in the Ukrainian crisis, CNN said. “Three US officials confirmed to me a short time ago that US intelligence over the last 48 hours has monitored the firing of several... 

Ukrainian troops have on many occasions used incendiary weapons and cluster bombs against militia-held cities, acts that are banned under the international law regulating warfare, the Russian military said. The accusation was voiced on Friday by Major General Viktor Poznikhir, the deputy commander of the chief operations branch of the Russian General Staff. Earlier some media reports claimed that... 

Buk missile system confused Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 with Ukrainian fighter jets. A source within the Ukrainian defense department claims that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was accidentally shot down by Ukrainian troops during a military exercise in near Donetsk which took place on July 17. “On July 17 the commanding officer of 156th Anti-Aircraft Regiment was instructed to conduct a training... 

One of the two black boxes recovered from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The Netherlands government has confirmed that Malaysian officials have handed over the flight MH17 black boxes to Dutch officials. “The black boxes from flight MH17 have been handed over by Malaysian experts to the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) that is leading the international investigation,” the Dutch... 

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton says Russian President Vladimir Putin bears responsibility for the crash of the Malaysian passenger plane. “I think if there were any doubt it should be gone by now, that Vladimir Putin, certainly indirectly through his support of the insurgents in eastern Ukraine and the supply of advanced weapons and, frankly, the presence of Russian Special Forces... 

European Union (EU) foreign ministers have agreed on imposing tougher sanctions against Russian entities and individuals nearly one week after the downing of a Malaysian Airlines plane in Ukraine. On Wednesday, the ministers agreed to draft a new list of Russian entities and individuals by July 24 to be added to the 63 names already targeted by sanctions. The 28-member bloc says that the new sanctions...