The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia reported that 12 Russian citizens and their family members crossed the Rafah border checkpoint on Thursday. The information was shared through the ministry’s Telegram channels, which relay updates from official sources and affiliated departments. The cohort is part of ongoing repatriation efforts aimed at ensuring the safety and orderly evacuation of civilians during the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip.
Officials stated that the group is now en route to Cairo by bus, where they will set up an operational headquarters. The plan is to coordinate further assistance and establish a centralized point from which to manage the flow of evacuees. An accompanying note indicated that the operational group of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in Egypt would resume work tomorrow to receive people and organize next steps in the evacuation process. The emphasis is on maintaining a steady pace and clear lines of communication with all parties involved.
Earlier, the press service of Russia’s Ministry of Health reported that nationwide experts from the FCMC reviewed the status of Russians in Egypt. According to their assessment, there are 80 Russian nationals from the Gaza Strip currently in Egypt, and their health conditions are satisfactory. Medical teams continue to monitor their well-being and provide necessary care to ensure stability during this transitional period. The report underscores the priority given to medical support in any repatriation operation, alongside the logistical arrangements that enable safe and orderly transport.
Prior to this, a third group of Russian citizens, comprising 40 individuals, had already departed from the Gaza Strip. In addition, during the night of November 15, the second evacuating group, totaling 98 people, reached Moscow after being evacuated from the Palestinian region. These movements reflect coordinated efforts to accelerate the return of citizens while maintaining safety protocols and on-site coordination with authorities in the region.
Earlier in the evening of November 13, a plane carrying the first group of Russian citizens evacuated from the Gaza Strip landed at Domodedovo Airport near Moscow. The aircraft touched down at 21:14 local time with an arrival count of approximately 70 passengers. The successful landing marked a critical milestone in the broader evacuation operation and demonstrated the capacity of the aviation component to support multi-stage repatriation under challenging conditions.
In total, the operation has seen additional Russian nationals depart Gaza in successive waves, with a count of 88 individuals reporting to have left the area in subsequent movements. The ongoing efforts are being managed through a tightly coordinated framework that brings together military, medical, and civil authorities to safeguard the welfare of the evacuees while ensuring transparent and efficient processing at all stages of the journey.