The Humanitarian Centre “Aid + Help” of Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has agreed with Aidar Batallion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine located in Schastye town of Lugansk Oblast that ten trucks with the humanitarian aid provided under Rinat Akhemtov’s humanitarian aid drive which were detained by Aidar soldiers would be released to bring the aid to the civilians. The decision was declared at today’s meeting of Lugansk Oblast governor Gennadiy Moskal, a representative of the Humanitarian Centre Sergey Delas and a representative of Aidar Battalion.

Today the trucks with food sets will leave for Severodonetsk, from where they will deliver help to the settlements within their reach. According to the SCM’s Director of Public Relations and Communications Natalia Yemchenko, the Humanitarian Centre will make the decision till the end of the day. “We will provide the information later. But this is not going to be Krasnodon or Sverdlovsk. We understand that it is hard for people there and that over 60% of people in these towns need humanitarian help. First of all they do not have access to food as they lack money. Old people have not received pensions for months and payments of social benefits are also blocked. People are in trouble. We cannot help them as we are not allowed to get to the place.”

Some food sets will be distributed in Schastye tomorrow. The acting City Mayor of Schastye town Aleksandr Boginya has applied to the Humanitarian Centre with the corresponding request. The Humanitarian Centre will leave one truck with 2,000 food sets in the town for the most socially vulnerable category of IDP and residents.

“We help civilians. This is the mission of the Foundation and the Humanitarian Centre,” stated Natalia Yemchenko.  “Our decision does not depend on the status of settlements but it depends on the need for help. We try to help those who need help more than others. To have a chance to help people we ask not to politicise the issue of humanitarian help.”

On 24 September, ten trucks with the humanitarian aid for almost 20,000 people were detained in Schastye by 24th unit of Aidar Batallion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on their way to Krasnodon and Sverdlovsk in Lugansk Oblast. The soldiers used the trucks as the security fence on the territory of Luganskaya TPP. The humanitarian help in the trucks is meant for civilians.