Planes with Ukraine-bound aid land in Crimea - Russian Defense Ministry

SIMFEROPOL. March 10 (Interfax) - Five Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft with 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid on board on Thursday flew from Russia's Rostov region to Crimea from where the cargo will be sent by road to Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The planes carrying food and essentials landed at the aerodrome in the village of Gvardeiskoye just outside Simferopol. The cargo was loaded onto Emergency Situations Ministry vehicles.

These will carry 40 tonnes to Melitopol, 30 tonnes to Berdiansk and 30 tonnes to Enerhodar.

Melitopol has been under Russian military control since February 26, Berdiansk and Enerhodar since February 28, the ministry said.