Russia urges its citizens to leave Israel amid Iran conflict

Moscow’s ambassador in Israel has advised Russian nationals to leave the country as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, citing security risks and a potential evacuation plan.

Russia’s ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, on Monday urged Russian citizens to leave Israel until the ongoing conflict with Iran subsides, warning of growing risks to safety and health.

“We recommend that all Russian citizens who are in Israel leave the country until the situation here is normalized,” Viktorov said during an interview with state-run Rossiya-24 TV.

Calling the situation “tense,” Viktorov emphasized that the threat to Russians in Israel is real and immediate. He also confirmed that Moscow is considering the evacuation of citizens and embassy staff, though only as long as individuals are still able to leave on their own.

“Several dozen” Russians have already used Egypt as a transit route to return home, Viktorov noted, while also pointing to the land border with Jordan as another possible escape path. However, he cautioned that air travel remains unpredictable due to periodic flight cancellations and restricted airspace.

The ambassador reported minor damage to the Russian Embassy from nearby blasts, though no direct hits occurred. Embassy operations have since intensified under an elevated security protocol.

Viktorov also underlined the need for diplomatic de-escalation and said there was mutual understanding between Russia and the US on resolving the crisis through political means.

His remarks follow Israel’s large-scale airstrikes Friday on Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure, which killed top military officials and scientists. Iran responded with missile attacks that caused casualties and damage in Israel.

Copied