The Russian air base in Hmeimim in Syria has provided shelter to nearly 9,000 civilians fleeing the wave of violence that has swept the country in recent days.
This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, quoted by Reuters. She did not give further details.
Hmeimim, along with the other Russian military base in Syria, is crucial for Moscow, even after the overthrow of Bashar Assad by Islamist rebels. Most refugees, mostly women and children, face dire circumstances.
The rising wave of violence has heightened tensions between the forces of the new Islamist government and Assad's Alawite faction. Moscow is working with interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, maintaining diplomatic ties with regional stability forces.
We recall that clashes broke out between Syrian security forces and Assad's supporters in early March. The clashes claimed more than 1,000 lives, most of them civilians.