3 weeks ago 9

Russia Evacuates Part of Diplomatic Missions From Syria

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has evacuated part of its diplomatic missions from Syria, along with diplomats of Belarus, North Korea and Abkhazia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

"On December 15, a special flight of the Russian Defense Ministry's Aerospace Forces airlifted part of the Russian diplomatic missions in Damascus from the Hmeymim airbase to the Chkalovsky airport in Moscow," the ministry's Crisis Management Center said.

"Personnel of the diplomatic missions of Belarus, North Korea and Abkhazia were also evacuated. The Russian embassy in Damascus continues to function," the statement read.