More than 100 lorries carrying Russian aid have set off towards the border with Ukraine, amid continuing confusion over their final destination.

The lorries appeared to be heading towards Rostov, the Russian city near rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine.

Russia has dismissed claims that the convoy is a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels as "absurd".

But Ukraine has said the convoy must be inspected by international monitors and before it can be let in.

Fighting in the east has intensified in recent weeks, with the UN saying there has been a spike in the number of deaths.

Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict began in mid-April, and more than half of them in the past two weeks, the UN said.

On Wednesday, the convoy appeared to be held up in the Voronezh area, some 570km (350 miles) north of Rostov.

There were also reports that the convoy had dispersed.

And it was believed to be heading towards Kharkiv, in a government-controlled area of Ukraine.

However, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, travelling with the convoy, says more than 100 lorries set off southwards before dawn on Thursday.

It is not clear if another group of lorries is still heading towards Kharkiv.

Russia announced its intention to send a convoy earlier this week, saying it was in discussions with Ukraine's government and the Red Cross.

However, on Wednesday the Red Cross said it still had not had any clarity on practical details and was not in control of the mission.

And Ukraine's government seemed unwilling to let the convoy cross into its territory.

The fighting in the east began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence.

The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June.

In March this year, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.

(BBC)