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11May16

Russian soldier killed in shelling in Syria — defense ministry

Russian soldier Anton Yerygin sustained serious wounds in Syria's Homs province and died in hospital, an officer of the Russian Hmeimim base said on Wednesday.

"Performing tasks to escort vehicles of the Russian center for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria's Homs province, Russian soldier Anton Yerygin received serious wounds in shelling opened by militants," the officer said. "The wounded serviceman was urgently taken to hospital where Russian medics were fighting for his life for two days but failed to save him."

Yerygin has been recommended for a state award posthumously.

The Russian operation against Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups in Syria has been ongoing for nearly six months. Supported by strikes of Russian war planes, Syria's army recaptured 400 residential localities from militants. A significant damage has been inflicted upon illegal oil trade (the main financial source for terrorists). Main routes supplying the terrorists with weapons and ammunition have been cut off as well.

On March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered starting the pullout of the main Russian air group from Syria. He said the tasks set to the Russian military had been coped with "by and large." But two Russian military facilities - the Khmeimin and Tartus bases - continue to operate in the country.

Russia joined the operation against terrorists in Syria on September 30, 2015 at the request of Syrian president Bashar Assad. Ceasefire took effect in Syria on February 27, 2016. It had been agreed by Russia and the United States. The ceasefire does not apply to the groups Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (both outlawed in Russia), and also other groups declared terrorist by the UN Security Council.

[Source: Itar Tass, Hmeimim, 11May16]
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