Ukrainian border and customs officials have begun inspecting a mammoth Russian aid convoy before it crosses into Ukraine, a Kiev military spokesman told AFP.

"At 10:00am (0700 GMT) checks began of the Russian humanitarian assistance at the Russian border post of Donetsk. Fifty-nine Ukrainian officials are taking part in the inspection," military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin told AFP, adding that the aid would then head to the rebel-held bastion of Lugansk.