Here's a convoy update from RFE/RL's news desk. It appears the Russians have been in touch with the Red Cross:
The Red Cross (ICRC) says it has made contact with a Russian aid convoy headed for the Ukrainian border.
The ICRC tweeted that it had made "initial contact" with the convoy in Russia's Rostov region, near the rebel-held Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. The organization said "any practical details are still to be clarified."
Russian officials have not said where the convoy of nearly 300 trucks is headed.
Moscow has dismissed claims that the convoy is a pretext to send military aid to the separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine said it was sending its own aid convoys to the east, with dozens of trucks leaving Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv for a government-held town near Luhansk on August 14.
In a separate tweet, the Red Cross said it was talking to Ukrainian authorities "about how this operation will be conducted."
(AFP, dpa, UNIAN)
"The Shooter" (Strelkov) is replaced with "Tzar" as the self-proclaimed DNR's Minister of Defence, says Borodai, who himself quit top post.
— Albina Kovalyova (@agent_Alka) August 14, 2014
Separatist moves: -Strelkov: Resigned (loc unknown) -Borodai - Moscow -Pushilin - Moscow -Khodakovsky - says always wanted 1 UKR anyway
— Glenn Kates (@gkates) August 14, 2014
New DNR boss Zakharchenko: "Defence Min" Strelkov is being replaced by one Kononov - cause he has some new job: http://t.co/VyuKeu9H41
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) August 14, 2014
http://t.co/nfGq51bmNY Strelkov quits, hard to see how separatist narrative continues
— Nick Paton Walsh (@npwcnn) August 14, 2014
Here's an update from our news desk on Strelkov's reported resignation:
The self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR) in eastern Ukraine has announced the appointment of a new defense minister one day after unconfirmed reports that the previous DNR defense minister had been severely wounded.
Sergei Kavtaradze, a member of the security council for the pro-Russian, separatist DNR, said on today that Vladimir Kononov had been appointed acting defense minister to replace Igor Strelkov.
Strelkov has not been heard from since reports yesterday claimed he had been wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The pro-separatist website novorosinform.com reported that Strelkov requested to be relieved of his post "in connection with a transfer to another position."
It was unclear why Strelkov himself did not make the announcement of his resignation but Kavtaradze said Strelkov was "alive, heathy, and everything is normal with him."
Strelkov is the third separatist leader to resign in the past week.
Earlier today, Valeriy Bolotov announced he was stepping down as leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
(Interfax, novorosinform.com, Reuters)
Potentially big news here. This Life News report has former head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) saying that Igor Strelkov has resigned as defense minister of the DNR.
Бородай: Стрелков ушел в отставку с поста министра обороны ДНР http://t.co/Rpt3VpnyJw pic.twitter.com/xpp87k9MB5
— LIFENEWS (@lifenews_ru) August 14, 2014
How much did you think about MH17 since the convoy affair started? Old story, yeah?
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) August 14, 2014
We have made initial contact with the #Russia-led aid convoy, Rostov region, #Ukraine. Many practical details are still to be clarified.
— ICRC (@ICRC) August 14, 2014
MT @shaunwalker7: Russian convoy has stopped possibly for some time (reportedly till Aug 17). Field camp being set up pic.twitter.com/Q7KmfEY5qS
— Ukraine Reporter (@StateOfUkraine) August 14, 2014