You're reading: First Russians evacuated from Syria land in Moscow

MOSCOW — The first Russian citizens evacuated from Syria arrived in Moscow overnight.

The
evacuation of 77 Russians was the first organized by Russia since the
start of the Syrian conflict nearly two years ago, and it may be the
beginning of what could become a difficult and dangerous operation to
rescue tens of thousands of Russians living in Syria as rebels gain
momentum in their fight to oust President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The
Russians, mainly women married to Syrians and their children, were
taken by bus to Beirut, Lebanon, and then flown to Moscow. The first of
two planes landed shortly after 5 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Wednesday.

Rushana Vidova, who left the country with her Syrian husband Ali, said she is grateful to “Russia and all who helped us.”

Russia’s
Emergencies Ministry, which sent the planes, said the passengers were
being given medical examinations before leaving the airport. It was
unclear if any of them had been hurt in the fighting, but an AP
correspondent at the scene did not see anyone visibly wounded.

U.S.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the overnight
evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria “speaks to the continued
deterioration of the security situation, and the violence that Assad is
leading against his own people.”