BEIRUT, November 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Area of Damascus where the Russian embassy is located came under an intense mortar shelling Thursday, Timur Pechatnikov, the embassy press attache told Itar-Tass by telephone.

One of the mines exploded right on the territory of the ambassadorial compound, he said.

"There are no injured among the ambassadorial staff members but certain material damage has been done," Pechatnikov said.

One more shell fell outside the fence surrounding the compound.

In spite of the shelling, the embassy continued its regular operations, although security measures were tightened, the press attache said.