The children rescued from Lake Syamozero in Karelia have returned to Moscow. They were flown by an Emergency Ministry Antonov An-148 plane which landed at Vnukovo Airport.

The plane carried 33 children, all who went into the ill-fated trip, including the 12 children hospitalized in Petrozavodsk. Specialists of the Tsentrospas team provided the children with necessary medical and psychological attention during the flight. Doctors and psychologists on board said that the children did not get worse.

Minister Vladimir Puchkov talked with the children on board. Before the flight he came up to each of them and asked about their health. He explained to the children and their relatives that they should not worry as all organizational issues were under his personal control.

Mr. Puchkov thanked the children for their selflessness and courage, for their desire to help each other.

“I want to thank each of you. In this most complicated and hard situation you demonstrated fortitude and selflessness. I am proud of you and wish you success,” the Minister said.

The children will have an additional examination in the boarding house for war veterans in Konkovo, Moscow. From Vnukovo they will board a bus to get them to the boarding house where their relatives are already waiting for them.

“There are teams of pediatricians in the boarding house who will provide additional examination to each of the children and prescribe a rehabilitation course or treatment,” the Minister said accompanying the bus carrying the children.