Russia yesterday flew a group of 88 men described as technical and humanitarian experts together with vehicles into the Afghan capital, Kabul.
The experts, some in uniform, were sent by the Ministry for Emergency Situations, which said they included a range of health and relief specialists intended to help the country get back on its feet.
This move follows last week's statement by Moscow confirming that the Northern Alliance regime which took power in Kabul last week is the recognised government of Afghanistan.
In fact, the UN and most nations have continued to recognise this government, led by President Burhanuddin Rabbani, since it was ejected from Kabul by the Taliban in 1996.
But America and Britain have in recent days said they would prefer to see a new power-sharing government set up for the country, and Britain has pointedly said it has a "representative" at its former embassy, rather than an ambassador.
The Russian experts arrived aboard several Il-76 aircraft. Specialists in demining are included in the party. "Their task is to inspect the road from the airfield in Baghram to Kabul, as well as the place where the humanitarian relief centre will be set up," said a source quoted by Moscow news agencies.
The source said the number of specialists would grow to 200.
They certainly have their work cut out: Afghanistan is one of the most blighted countries on the planet, with hundreds of thousands of people depending on UN food aid. It is also one of the most mined places on earth, a legacy of 23 years of continual fighting.
The aircraft were seen arriving mid-morning at Bagram airfield 50 km north of Kabul.
"We are Russians," one driver said when the convoy of unmarked military vehicles parked on a roadside in central Kabul.
One member of the group, who had been in talks with Northern Alliance soldiers where they were parked, said briefly "we are working" and refused to discuss the mission further.
The convoy included nine trucks with trailers normally used for transporting troops and cargo, three fuel tankers, one truck with a red cross marking and a jeep.