A third group of Russian citizens, totaling 40 individuals, has left the Gaza Strip. The information was provided by the head of the press service for Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, Roman Okhtonenko, via TASS. The group, along with family members, passed through the Rafah border crossing that connects Egypt with the Gaza Strip on November 14.
Okhtonenko reported that the evacuees were accompanied by a stable support plan and safety measures during this stage of the operation. The evacuation effort has been organized in multiple phases, with the Rafah crossing serving as one of the key exit points for citizens seeking to leave the conflict area.
Earlier updates described the second wave of Russian evacuees from Gaza. That group, consisting of 98 people, successfully reached Moscow aboard an Il-76 military aircraft operated by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Healthcare workers and psychologists joined the flight to provide immediate medical care and emotional support to those on board.
In the capital, the first group of evacuees landed at Domodedovo Airport in the evening hours of November 13. The aircraft touched down in Moscow at 21:14 local time and carried approximately 70 passengers. The return flights are part of a broader mission to bring home Russian citizens who had been living in a war zone, where daily life was marked by danger and disruption.
People who previously fled Gaza have described a life dominated by persistent conflict, with civilians facing shortages of essentials, intermittent access to services, and the constant threat of violence. The evacuation efforts aim to provide safe passages for those seeking to relocate to places of relative stability, where access to humanitarian aid and post-crisis recovery resources can be pursued. While the logistics are complex and occasionally uncertain, the operation has continued with the coordination of multiple agencies and international partners to ensure that evacuees are accompanied throughout the journey.