Russia pulls 7,000 citizens out of Gulf region as Middle East tensions rise

Approximately 7,000 Russian citizens have been evacuated from countries across the Middle East.

Dmitry Arutyunov, co-head of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI) Committee on Outbound Tourism, provided the update at a press conference, TASS reports.

He noted that RUTI, in coordination with the Russian Association of Tour Operators, had previously estimated that roughly 50,000 Russian tourists were in the region.

“About 7,000 passengers have been evacuated. Not all of them were package tourists. Around 23,000 tourists booked trips that included flights. Some traveled independently, while others only purchased ground services,” Arutyunov said, highlighting the ongoing efforts to ensure the safe return of Russian nationals amid heightened regional tensions.

By Vafa Guliyeva