Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘invasion’ as aid trucks move in

IZVARYNE, Aug 22 (agencies): Russia ordered a convoy of aid trucks across the border into eastern Ukraine  Friday apparently without Kiev's permission, raising the danger of direct confrontation with the Ukrainian military which is fighting pro-Russian rebels.
A Reuters witness said about 70 white-painted trucks, part of a column of about 260 that had been waiting at the border for over a week, had crossed the border and was heading towards the rebel stronghold of Luhansk accompanied by a small number of separatist fighters.
An unnamed Ukrainian official told Interfax news agency it was not escorted by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the terms previously agreed by Kiev and Moscow.
Kiev and Western capitals have expressed concern that the convoy, held up by wrangling over the terms of passage, the content of the cargo and the role of the ICRC, could be used as a pretext for some form of direct Russian military intervention.
Russia denies the accusation as absurd.
Moscow described a week-long delay in allowing the vehicles across the border an "outrage" as it ordered the convoy into rebel-held territory, despite Red Cross officials refusing to provide an escort because of security concerns.
"This is a direct invasion," the head of Ukraine's security service, Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, was quoted by news agencies as saying.
As about 70 trucks rolled into the restive territory, Ukraine's foreign ministry warned that separatist fighters were shelling the convoy's possible route to the rebel bastion of Lugansk some 63 kilometres (40 miles) away and could be planning a "provocation".
Ukraine and Russia both said the other side was responsible for the convoy's security, and Russia's foreign ministry warned "against any attempts to disrupt a totally humanitarian mission".
Kiev condemned Moscow's "deliberate and aggressive" move and said border guards were blocked from checking the contents of most of the white lorries.
Russia has been haggling with Ukraine over the convoy amid fears in Kiev and the West that the trucks could be used to bolster a flagging pro-Russian rebellion in the east or provide a pretext for Russia to send in troops.
Russia insists it just wants to get urgently needed assistance to residents in the stricken region who have been without water and electricity for weeks.
Moscow said it was ready to have Red Cross officials accompany the convoy, but the organisation said it had backed out of the operation because of fierce fighting raging in the area where the trucks are heading.
Ukraine's border service said its officials were effectively "blocked" at the Russian checkpoint as the trucks crossed into Ukraine, violating all prior agreements.
Nearly 300 trucks driven by men in identical beige clothes had been waiting for the green light since arriving at the border over a week ago and there appeared to be progress on Thursday when Ukraine said its officials had started checking the convoy.
Meanwhile, in the southwestern outskirts of the largest rebel-held city of Donetsk, a separatist checkpoint was shelled on Friday by Ukrainian forces nearby.