The Russian Defense Ministry is organizing the evacuation of more than 500 citizens of Russia, CSTO countries and Ukraine from Afghanistan by four military transport aircraft on instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Wednesday.
"On August 25, on instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu organized the evacuation of more than 500 citizens of the Russian Federation, CSTO member states (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), Uzbekistan and Ukraine from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by military transport aircraft," the military ministry said.
They specified that "an air grouping of four military transport aviation airplanes has been created". The planes are already centered at an airfield in Ulyanovsk.
"Each Russian airplane of military transport aviation carries medical teams of military doctors with necessary medical equipment and medicines to provide medical aid and support to the evacuated citizens of Russia and other countries during the flight," the defense ministry of the Russian Federation noted.
In addition, the aircraft are supplied with drinking water, blankets and individual food rations.
On August 15, fighters of the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) entered Kabul without a fight and established full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was leaving the country to avoid bloodshed. Amrullah Saleh, vice-president of the republic, said that in the absence of the head of state, he became acting head of the country by the constitution, and called for armed resistance to the Taliban. Western countries evacuate their citizens and embassy staff.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS