Two Russian officers killed in Syria
Two military advisers from Russia have been killed in Syria: Captain Evgeny Konstantinov and Major Aleksander Skladan, commander of the reconnaissance battalion, as reported by RBC news outlet, citing Sergei Minko, the Chairman of the regional branch of “Boevoe Bratstvo” (“Military Brotherhood”) in the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia.
In Minko’s words, the retreating Syrian army left the Russian military alone with the enemy.
“The Syrian army stopped providing covering fire, and retreated. Konstantinov remained with the wounded intelligence chief, hand-to-hand with the terrorists. When the army of the Arab Republic regained control of the situation, the Russian military was found with multiple injuries," said Minko.
According to Minko, the death of Konstantinov, the chairman of the “Boevoe Bratstvo”, became known from the documents of the Ministry of Defense. The documents also showed that Konstantinov’s colleague, whom he was trying to save, was the chief of the reconnaissance battalion, Major Aleksander Skladan. He also died during this battle.
Minko clarified that Konstantinov had been on a special mission in Syria as a military adviser since March 2017. He took part in planning and carrying out operations in Syria. His last post in Russia was as the commander of a battalion in the Samara region.
Earlier, the death of Konstantinov in Syria was reported by the publication “Gorod Na Bire” (City on Bira). The publication noted that a Russian officer received six gunshot wounds in a battle on May 3. The Russian captain was buried on May 7 in Novosibirsk, where his parents live. He was awarded the Order of Courage.
In total, 33 Russian soldiers have been killed during the military operation in Syria, according to official figures by the Russian Defense Ministry.
On May 3, Russian lieutenant colonel Alexei Buchelnikov was killed in Syria. He was shot by a sniper.