MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram account that the nationals of Kazakhstan and Russia were saved during a major humanitarian operation. Ziyad Sabsabi, a special representative of the Chechen leader in the Middle East and North Africa, was sent to accompish the goal.
"We managed to save 12 people in Tal Afar, including six Russians and six Kazakhs, and deliver them to a safe place," Kadyrov wrote.
According to Kadyrov, the location of six other Russian citizens has been determined as Iraqi Kurdistan.
Kurdish law enforcement agencies took part in the operation, while Russia's Consulate General in Erbil provided substantial support, Kadyrov added.
On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the beginning of the military offensive aimed at retaking Tal Afar, which is located 30 miles away from recently liberated Mosul. Tal Afar is the last major stronghold of the Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in Russia, on the Iraqi border with Syria.
