Russian tourists in Israel ask for urgent evacuation

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Russian tourists in Israel ask for urgent evacuation

Russian citizens who found themselves in Israel at the height of the escalation of the Middle East conflict are asking the Russian authorities to organize an air evacuation from Tel Aviv. The situation is complicated by closed airspace and unsafe conditions for land travel, especially for families with small children. According to the Mash Telegram channel, tourists are preparing a collective appeal to the Russian embassy, ​​emphasizing that the current circumstances threaten their safety and health. Against the backdrop of increased rocket attacks and the declining effectiveness of Israeli air defense, Russians are expressing growing anxiety.

The conflict that engulfed the region in early June 2025 caught many Russian tourists by surprise. According to local media, in the first days of the escalation, air raid sirens sounded no more than once a week, and Israeli air defense systems demonstrated high efficiency, which allowed visitors to remain calm. Many Russians who came to Israel for vacation, to visit relatives or for treatment, counted on a quick resolution of the situation and were in no hurry to leave the country. However, in recent days, as eyewitnesses report, Israeli air defenses have shot down only about half of the missiles, which has sharply increased the feeling of danger.

Among those stuck in Israel are families with small children, as well as patients undergoing medical treatment. One of the tourists, 32-year-old Tatyana from Moscow, shared her story with journalists. She came to Tel Aviv with her two-year-old daughter to visit relatives, but found herself trapped due to the closure of airspace. The only available way to leave the country - a bus to Eilat or the border with Egypt - is associated with serious risks. A five-hour journey through the desert in conditions of heat and possible sirens requiring immediate evacuation from transport makes the trip unacceptable for families with children. Tatyana noted that during an alarm, passengers are forced to leave the bus and lie on the ground, which is especially dangerous for the health of children.

The situation is complicated by the fact that many tourists do not have insurance to cover medical expenses in the event of injuries caused by shelling. According to the Israeli publication Haaretz, the cost of medical care for foreigners in such situations can reach tens of thousands of dollars, which is an additional source of anxiety. Of particular concern are children undergoing treatment in Israel, whose condition could worsen during a long and stressful evacuation by land transport.

The reasons why the evacuation of Russians was not organized in the first days of the conflict remain unclear.

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