Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has organised the evacuation of more than 500 Russian citizens, as well as nationals from the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and Ukraine from Afghanistan via military transport aircraft, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the group of seven advanced economies, the G7, convened an urgent virtual meeting on 24 August to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan.
President Joe Biden said during the meeting that ending the US mission in Afghanistan will depend on achieving the set objectives, adding that Washington is on pace to finish its presence in the country by 31 August.
The evacuation of foreign nationals, diplomatic missions, and Afghan citizens from the war-torn nation has been underway since the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban on 15 August, and has been marked by unrest at the airport, where evacuation flights are taking place.
Source: SPUTNIK NEWS
Notes:
Russia’s evacuation operation was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the defence ministry was quoted as saying.
The Russian government plans to request flights out of Afghanistan in September for Afghan students who are planning to study in Russia, the embassy said on Tuesday.
Source: REUTERS