Kremlin confirms that ‘several dozen Russians were killed and injured in recent military clash in Syria’
In Syria, "during the recent military clash", several dozen Russians were injured, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement published on the Ministry’s website. The Ministry did not specify what kind of military clash it was and where it occurred.
"During a recent military confrontation, in which the military personnel of the Russian Federation were not involved and no regular technical means were used, Russian citizens and citizens of other CIS countries were killed. This was previously reported. There are also several dozen wounded. They received assistance with travelling back to Russia and, as far as we know, are being treated in various hospitals, “ the statement of the Ministry reads.
“There are Russian citizens in Syria. They went there at their own will and for different reasons. It’s not the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the legitimacy of their decisions,” the Ministry stated.
On February 7, the US-led coalition forces conducted the strike against the Syrian militia affiliated with Assad in the province of Deir ez Zor. The U.S. coalition said that the blow was struck in response to an attack on the headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). According to Reuters, at least 100 people were killed in the attack.
Commenting on the situation, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that there are no Russian soldiers in the region.
Later, reports started appearing of the presence of the Russian military among the forces attacked by the US-led coalition.