Group under Greek-Russian Businessman Sends Aid to Ukraine Separatists

An association of Greeks in Russia led by Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis has sent cars and generators to pro-Russian separatist authorities in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, the Donetsk News Agency reported on April 10, saying that the donations would be used in providing medical aid and humanitarian assistance.

The report said the Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of Greeks of Russia had provided 20 UAZ vehicles and 14 generators to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Russia says it is refocusing its invasion of Ukraine on securing Donetsk and Luhansk in the eastern Donbas, where Russia fomented an armed rebellion in 2014 having annexed the Crimean peninsula.

The Greek diaspora organisation said the donation would be used to help people in and around the coastal city of Mariupol, much of which has been reduced to rubble by Russian rockets.

The organisation has previously sent food and bottled water to Mariupol.

According to the Athens News Agency, around 77,500 people of Greek origin live in the Donetsk region.

Sixty-three-year-old Savvidis is the founder of Agrokom Group and owner of the Russian tobacco firm Donskoy Tabak. He controls a number of hotels in northern Greece, holds a majority stake in the Thessaloniki Port Authority and owns PAOK football club, OPEN TV and the ethnos.gr news website among other companies. Forbes estimates his wealth at $1.6 billion.

The Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of Greeks of Russia did not respond to a request for comment.

Aid agencies have struggled to gain access to Mariupol.

"Our team tried for five days to go to Mariupol and it's a difficult journey because you have to cross the front line, you have to go through many,...