The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it will establish an air bridge to Kabul for the extraction of 500 Russian and CSTO member countries’ citizens still present in Afghanistan.
As reported by the Interfax-AVN news agency, 500 people, citizens of member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which includes the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, will be sought to be evacuated. It was announced that the measure will also include ukrainian citizens still present in Kabul.
Four Illushin Il-76 strategic transport aircraft will be used for the operation, which are already assembled at the Ulyanovsk airfield, awaiting the take-off order. On each aircraft there is a military medical team ready to provide medical assistance during the trip. In addition, the planes have a supply of drinking water, blankets and individual food rations.
According to reports, the Russian embassy in Kabul remains operational and this operation is not about evacuating afghan civilians potentially threatened by the Taliban for working with the russians, as there are concerns that Taliban terrorists may slip in among the refugees.
Meanwhile, evacuation operations of nationals and afghan natives at risk by other countries (mainly NATO members) are continuing and accelerating, as the deadline agreed between the US and the Taliban council for the cessation of hostilities in Kabul and the vicinity of the airport expires on August 31.
