Gaza has been fully controlled by radical Islamic movement Hamas since last week's fighting with the pro-presidential Fatah movement, which left at least 100 people dead.
"After them [the Ukrainian nationals], our citizens will begin to be evacuated," Alexei Pogodin said at the Erez checkpoint, the main crossing point into Israel. Israeli authorities closed down the checkpoint on June 14, shortly after the violence began.
Israeli authorities have said they would start letting Russian nationals pass through Gaza's border into Israel at 9 a.m. GMT, the press attache of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv said Wednesday.
The list of Russians, mostly women married to locals, and their families originally consisted of 141 names, but was later extended by 16 people whose candidacies require approval of Israeli authorities. The evacuees will be transported to Jordan's capital Amman by bus and then flown to Russia.
Russian diplomats have said they hoped to complete the evacuation by the end of the day.
At least 30 Russians and their families have already gathered near the Erez checkpoint in Gaza.
"We are leaving Gaza with gratitude to our friends and of course the Russian Embassy," said Tatyana Murtazha, who plans to be evacuated with the children and husband. "It has become impossible to live here now but we hope to return when the situation gets better."
