Scores of Russians are to be flown home after fleeing the violence in Syria – but Russia insists it is not the start of a mass evacuation.
Up to 150 people, who have left Syria for neighbouring Lebanon, are expected to board two flights from the Lebanese capital Beirut, starting on Tuesday.
Moscow has been one of President Bashar al-Assad’s closest allies during the conflict in Syria.
But it has admitted making contingency plans for a possible future evacuation.
Such an operation would almost certainly involve the Russian navy, says the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.
Russia has not renounced its support for Mr Assad, but has acknowledged he may not win.
The two countries have long had close ties and there are thought to be thousands of Russian citizens living and working in Syria.
A Russian diplomat told the AFP news agency: “This is not an evacuation. There is no pressure at all on Russians in Syria to leave the country, because there are many areas in Damascus which are completely safe and free from violence or any clashes.
“The issue is that the Russian airline is no longer flying to Damascus, so we are helping some 100, maximum 150 people to leave Syria via Beirut, which is very close,” the unnamed diplomat said.
“We are simply helping people who have gone to the Russian consulate in Damascus requesting assistance.”
He said, however, that the planes scheduled to leave on Tuesday and Wednesday would probably not be the last.
“It will be an ongoing operation. Whenever enough people request assistance at the consulate in Damascus, we will organise for new planes.”
‘Far from angels’
Russia’s state-controlled Russian Channel One TV said most of the passengers were women and children, and there would be doctors and psychologists aboard the flights, which are provided by Russia’s emergencies ministry.
Aleksey Malashenko, a member of the research council at the Moscow Carnegie Centre, said Russia was trying to protect its citizens who might be the victim of revenge attacks if the anti-Assad opposition prevails in the war.
“Assad’s regime is tottering, and those who intend to take his place are far from being angels,” he said.
“Russia’s reputation among the opposition is bad since we officially support Damascus. So, Moscow is showing commendable forward-thinking by evacuating Russians.”
