HOW THE RUSSIAN MILITARY HELPED FIGHT TERRORISTS IN SYRIA

On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of the main Russian forces from Syria from March 15.

At the same time, two Russian bases- Khmeimim and Tartus. They will continue to monitor the ceasefire in coordination with foreign partners.

In total, the Russian operation in Syria lasted 5 months and 14 days, it involved formations of the Aerospace Forces (VKS) and the Navy (Navy) of the Russian Federation.

From September 30, 2015 to mid-February 2016, when ceasefire negotiations began (the agreement came into force on February 27), Russian aviation carried out more than 7.2 thousand sorties from the Khmeimim airbase, destroying over 12.7 thousand militant targets .

The support of the Russian Aerospace Forces allowed the Syrian government forces to stop the territorial expansion of terrorist groups and launch an offensive in the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo. In addition, thanks to Russian strikes, terrorists lost more than half of the income from oil illegally extracted in Syrian territory.

According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Russian troops killed more than 2 thousand militants in Syria who came from the Russian Federation, including 17 field commanders.

The combat losses of the Russian Armed Forces amounted to three people, one plane and one helicopter.

How the Russian army fought and what diplomatic efforts are being made to ensure that the successes of the military operation are justified, - in the TASS material.

Main stages of the operation

On September 30, 2015, the Federation Council of the Russian Federation unanimously approved the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the country's Armed Forces outside its territory. This decision made it possible to launch an operation of the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of the Russian Federation against the terrorist groups “Islamic State” and “Jabhat al-Nusra” (banned in the Russian Federation) in Syria at the request of the country’s President Bashar al-Assad.

Immediately after the decision of the Federation Council, a Russian aviation group stationed at the Syrian Khmeimim airfield launched the first targeted airstrikes against IS targets in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Hama.

In addition to the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Russian military was also involved in the operation. Navy. On the night of October 6-7, the ships of the Red Banner Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy from the Caspian Sea launched a massive strike with cruise missiles of the sea-based Kalibr complex against IS targets in Syria. 26 missiles were fired from the ships "Dagestan", "Grad Sviyazhsk", "Veliky Ustyug" and "Uglich".

On November 17, 2015, Putin demanded that Russian air strikes be stepped up in Syria. This happened after the head Federal service Security Alexander Bortnikov reported that the cause of the crash was the Russian airliner A321 in Egypt.

On the same day, in accordance with the assigned task, massive strikes were carried out on militant positions in Syria with air-launched cruise missiles and aerial bombs by the crews of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3.

On November 20, Russia increased the air force participating in the operation to 69 aircraft. At the same time, the ships of the Caspian Flotilla launched 18 cruise missiles at seven terrorist positions, successfully hitting all targets.

On December 8, sea-based cruise missiles "Caliber" were launched for the first time from the submarine "Rostov-on-Don" from the water area Mediterranean Sea. The attack destroyed two IS command posts in Raqqa province.

ISIS's income hits

In the first two months of the operation alone, 32 oil production complexes, 11 oil refineries, and 23 oil pumping stations were damaged. One thousand eighty tank trucks transporting petroleum products were destroyed. This made it possible to reduce the turnover of illegally extracted oil on Syrian territory by almost 50%.

According to Russian military data, the Islamic State's annual income from illegal oil sales amounts to about $2 billion a year.

Russia also accused Turkey's top leadership and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally of being involved in the illegal production and transportation of Syrian and Iraqi oil.

In turn, the head of the main operational directorate of the Russian General Staff, Sergei Rudskoy, said that the Russian Ministry of Defense has identified three main routes for transporting oil from Syria and Iraq to Turkey.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Combat losses

On November 24, 2015, a Su-24M front-line bomber (tail number “83 white”, registration number RF-90932) of the Special Aviation Group of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria was shot down by an F-16 fighter of the Turkish Air Force in Syria.

The pilots managed to eject, ground fire was opened on them, and the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was killed.

According to the Turkish side, the bomber was shot down due to a violation of the airspace of this country. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied the fact that the Su-24M crossed the Turkish border.

Russian Aerospace Forces helicopters flew out to search for the pilots; during the operation, one of them (Mi-8AMTSh) was damaged by shelling from the ground, and a contract marine, sailor Alexander Pozynich, died on board. The helicopter made an emergency landing on neutral territory, the crew and personnel of the search and rescue group were evacuated, and the vehicle itself was later destroyed by mortar fire from territory controlled by gangs.

On February 1, 2016, as a result of a mortar attack by IS terrorists on a military garrison where one of the formations was stationed Syrian army, a Russian military adviser was mortally wounded.

Coordination in the sky

Military operation demanded coordination with the countries of the region, as well as with the United States, which leads the coalition against the Islamic State, which has been fighting in Iraq and Syria since the fall of 2014.

The only party with which Russia had problems was Türkiye.

Putin instructed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to intensify Russian participation

Lavrov, in turn, reported to the president that the operation of the Aerospace Forces contributed to the creation of conditions for the political process in Syria. The Foreign Minister recalled that Russia has consistently advocated the establishment of inter-Syrian dialogue.

It is noteworthy that the diplomatic process in Syria sharply intensified precisely with the start of the Russian military operation. Russia succeeded in bringing Iran into the negotiations, something Moscow had been insisting on since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011. For the first time, the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry joined negotiations on the Syrian settlement on October 30, 2015 in Vienna.

The second meeting in Vienna took place on November 14. Its participants agreed to facilitate the holding of a meeting between the delegations of the Syrian government and the opposition by January 1, 2016, in order to later reach the creation of a transitional governing body and begin preparations for the development of a new constitution. This process, according to the road map developed in Vienna, should take about 18 months.

Peace talks were due to resume in Geneva in late January - early February 2016. However, the parties were once again unable to reach a compromise. Negotiations were “paused.”

The situation changed dramatically after the conclusion of the armistice agreement, which was agreed upon at the initiative of Russia and the United States. The ceasefire agreements do not apply to the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra groups and other groups designated as terrorist by the UN Security Council. Russia and the United States are jointly monitoring compliance with the terms of the ceasefire.

This opened up a chance to start a new round of negotiations, which would not have been possible if not for the efforts that Russia has made on the diplomatic and military front over the past months.

What weapons did the Russian Federation use?

Initially, the Russian group included 48 aircraft and helicopters, including Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters, Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.

The agreement on the deployment of a Russian aviation group at the Khmeimim airfield in Syria was concluded on August 26, 2015. The presence of Russian aviation, according to the document, “is defensive in nature and is not directed against other states.” The contract is concluded for an indefinite period.

The military operation also involved long-range aviation aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 and about 10 ships of the Russian Navy.

On November 26, 2015, the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system was deployed to the Khmeimim airfield to protect the Russian air group.

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Su-24M "FENCER"

The main strike force of the Russian air group in Syria is the modernized Su-24M front-line bomber.

The Su-24 (according to NATO classification - Fencer-D) is a front-line bomber with a variable-sweep wing; it received the nickname “Fencer” for its elongated nose. Designed to carry out missile and bomb strikes in simple and adverse weather conditions, day and night, including at low altitudes. Chief designer- Evgeny Felsner.

The plane made its first flight in 1976. The bomber is equipped with a special computing subsystem SVP-24 "Hephaestus", adopted for service in 2008, which expands the aircraft's capabilities to search and destroy targets. The Su-24M is capable of flying at low altitude and following the terrain. The bomber can strike both ground and surface targets using a wide range of ammunition, including high-precision weapons, including adjustable aerial bombs (KAB). The maximum flight speed at the ground is 1250 km/h, the ferry flight range is 2,775 km (with two PTB-3000 external fuel tanks). The aircraft is equipped with two AL-21F-3A turbojet engines with a thrust of 11,200 kgf each.

Armament - a 23 mm caliber cannon, on 8 suspension points it can carry air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, adjustable and free fall aircraft bombs, as well as unguided aircraft missiles, removable cannon installations. Can carry tactical nuclear bombs on board.

Currently, the Su-24 and its modifications are in service with the Russian Air Force, as well as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. About 120 modified units are planned to be replaced by the Su-34 by 2020.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Su-34 "DUCKING"

The multifunctional fighter-bomber of the "4+" generation Su-34 (according to NATO classification - Fullback) is designed to carry out high-precision missile and bomb strikes, including using nuclear weapons, against ground and surface targets at any time of the day. The main attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Among the Russian military, the Su-34 was nicknamed "Duckling" due to the nose of the aircraft, which resembles a duck's beak.

The all-weather front-line bomber is a modernization of the Su-27 fighter. Chief designer - Rollan Martirosov.

The first flight took place on April 13, 1990. It was adopted by the Russian Air Force on March 20, 2014. Serially produced since 2006 at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalova. Maximum speed - 1900 km/h, flight range - more than 4,000 km without refueling (7,000 km - with refueling), service ceiling- 14,650 meters. Armament - a 30 mm caliber cannon, on 12 hardpoints it can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles of various types, unguided rockets and aerial bombs.

The aircraft is equipped with an in-flight refueling system. The Su-34 is equipped with two AL-31F M1 turbojet engines with a thrust of 13,300 kgf each in afterburner mode. The aircraft crew is 2 people.

According to information from open sources, in December 2014, the Russian Air Force had 55 Su-34 units in service. In total, the Russian Ministry of Defense intends to adopt 120 Su-34s.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Su-25SM "GRACH"

The armored subsonic attack aircraft Su-25SM (NATO reporting name - Frogfoot-A), nicknamed "Rook", is designed to directly support ground forces over the battlefield day and night with direct visibility of the target, as well as destroy objects with given coordinates around the clock in any weather conditions .

The aircraft differs from the base model of the Su-25 in the presence of an on-board sighting and navigation system PrNK-25SM "Bars" and equipment for working with the GLONASS satellite navigation system. The cabin equipment was also seriously updated - multifunction displays (MFDs) were added and a new indicator on windshield(HUD) instead of old sights.

The Su-25SM is capable of using a wide range of ammunition, including precision weapons. The aircraft is equipped with a 30 mm GSh-30-2 double-barreled aircraft cannon. The maximum flight speed at the ground is 975 km/h, the flight radius is 500 km. The aircraft is equipped with two RD-195 turbojet engines with a thrust of 4,500 kgf each at maximum speed.

The Su-25 has become the most combative aircraft in the Russian army. He participated in many military operations (Afghanistan, Angola, South Ossetia). It is the “Rooks” that leave plumes of colored smoke in the form of the Russian flag over Red Square at every Victory Parade.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Su-27SM

Multi-role fighter Su-27SM (according to NATO classification - Flanker-B mod.1). Designed to gain air superiority. The aircraft's efficiency has doubled compared to the base Su-27 when operating against air targets.

The Su-27SM is equipped with new avionics (avionics) systems. The aircraft cockpit is equipped with multifunctional displays (MFDs). The range of used aviation weapons (AWW) has been expanded.

On Su-27SM3 type aircraft, two additional hardpoints are installed under the wing consoles.

Su-30SM

The task of the Su-30SM fighters (according to NATO classification - Flanker-H) is to cover bombers and attack aircraft that strike the positions of Islamic State militants.

The Russian two-seat multirole heavy fighter of the "4+" generation was created on the basis of the Su-27UB through its deep modernization.

Designed both for gaining air superiority and for striking ground and surface targets. The design of the aircraft uses the front horizontal tail (FH) and engines with thrust vector control (TCV). Thanks to the use of these solutions, the aircraft has super maneuverability.

The Su-30SM is equipped with a multifunctional control radar station (RLCS) with a Bars passive phased array antenna (PFAR). The fighter's ammunition range includes a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-surface weapons. The Su-30SM can be used as an aircraft for training pilots for advanced single-seat fighters. Since 2012, the construction of these aircraft for the Russian Air Force has been underway.

The Su-30SM is capable of performing fighting, associated with long range and flight duration and effective control of a group of fighters.

The Su-30SM is equipped with an in-flight refueling system, new navigation systems, the group action control equipment has been expanded, and the life support system has been improved. Due to the installation of new missiles and a weapons control system, the combat effectiveness of the aircraft has been significantly increased.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Su-35S

The Russian multi-role supersonic super-maneuverable fighter Su-35S belongs to the 4++ generation. It was developed in the 2000s by the experimental design bureau named after. BY. Sukhoi based on the Su-27 front-line fighter. The Su-35 made its first flight in 2008.

The aerodynamic design of the aircraft is made in the form of a twin-engine high-wing aircraft with a three-wheel retractable landing gear with a front strut. The Su-35 is equipped with AL-41F1S turbojet engines with an afterburner and a thrust vector controlled in one plane.

The 117C engine is responsible for the super-maneuverability of the Su-35. It was developed on the basis of its predecessors AL-31F, installed on Su-27 aircraft, but differs from them in increased thrust of 14.5 tons (versus 12.5), longer service life and lower fuel consumption.

The Su-35 has 12 external hardpoints for attaching high-precision missiles and bombs. Two more are for placing electronic warfare containers.

The Su-35's armament includes a whole range of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, as well as unguided missiles and aerial bombs of various calibers.

In terms of the range of bomber and unguided missile weapons, the Su-35 is generally no different from today’s Su-30MK, but in the future it will be able to use improved and new models of aerial bombs, including those with laser correction. The maximum combat load weight is 8000 kg.

The fighter is also equipped with a GSh-30-1 cannon of 30 mm caliber (ammunition capacity - 150 rounds).

© TV channel "Zvezda"

Long-range aviation

Tu-22M3

Long-range supersonic missile carrier-bomber with variable wing geometry.

Designed to engage ground and sea targets with supersonic guided missiles at any time of the day and in any weather conditions.

Chief designer - Dmitry Markov. The first flight took place on June 22, 1977, it went into serial production in 1978, and was adopted by the USSR Air Force in March 1989.

In total, about 500 Tu-22M of various modifications were built. The maximum speed of the aircraft is 2,300 km/h, the practical range is 5,500 km, the service ceiling is 13,500 m. The crew is 4 people. Can carry cruise missiles various types with a conventional or nuclear charge.

Currently, aircraft of this model, which are in service with the Russian Air Force, are being repaired and modernized.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Tu-95MS

Turboprop strategic missile-carrying bomber.

Designed to destroy important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of military operations.

Chief designer - Nikolay Bazenkov. The aircraft was created on the basis of the Tu-142MK and Tu-95K-22. The first flight took place in September 1979. Adopted by the USSR Air Force in 1981.

Maximum speed is 830 km/h, practical range is up to 10,500 km, service ceiling is 12,000 meters. Crew - 7 people. Armament - long-range cruise missiles, 2 23 mm cannons.

Currently, the Russian Aerospace Forces have about 30 units in service. Modernization to the Tu-95MSM version is underway, which will extend the service life of the aircraft until 2025.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Tu-160

Supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber with variable wing geometry.

Designed to destroy the most important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of military operations.

Chief designer - Valentin Bliznyuk. The vehicle made its first flight on December 18, 1981, and was adopted by the USSR Air Force in 1987.

Maximum speed - 2,230 km/h, practical range - 14,600 km, service ceiling - 16,000 m. Crew - 4 people. Armament: up to 12 cruise missiles or up to 40 tons of air bombs. Flight duration is up to 15 hours (without refueling).

At least 15 aircraft of this type are in service with the long-range aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces. By 2020, ten modernized Tu-160M ​​aircraft are expected to arrive.

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Helicopters

Mi-8AMTSH "TERMINATOR"

Mi-8AMTSh Terminator transport and attack helicopters are stationed at the Khmeimim airbase. This is the latest modification of the well-known and proven military transport helicopter Mi-8.

"Terminator" is designed to destroy enemy equipment, including armored equipment, shelters and firing points, and manpower.

The range of ammunition used on board the Mi-8AMTSh, in addition to unguided weapons, includes high-precision weapons, in particular anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) 9M120 "Attack" or 9M114 "Sturm". The helicopter can carry up to 37 paratroopers, up to 12 wounded on stretchers or transport up to 4 tons of cargo, perform search and rescue and evacuation operations.

The helicopter is equipped with two VK-2500 engines of increased power. Mi-8AMTSh are equipped with a set of means of protection against damage. The cockpit of the new helicopter is equipped with multifunctional indicators that display digital map terrain, and the latest flight and navigation equipment working with GPS and GLONASS navigation systems. Mi-8AMTSh helicopters are also distinguished by improved service life indicators, allowing significant savings on helicopter maintenance throughout the life cycle.

Crew - 3 people. Maximum speed - 250 km/h, flight range - up to 800 km, service ceiling - 6,000 meters.

Versatility and high performance characteristics have made Mi-8 helicopters one of the most popular Russian helicopters in the world.

Mi-24P

The Mi-24P attack helicopter (NATO classification - Hind-F) is designed for visual surveillance and organization of a security zone in the area of ​​the Khmeimim airfield, as well as search and rescue operations. It is a modernized version of the Mi-24.

Each Mi-24P used in Syria carries four units of 20 unguided aircraft missiles. The helicopter is also equipped with guided missiles and a 30-mm double-barreled automatic aircraft cannon GSh-30K (ammunition - 250 rounds), capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h and rising to a height of 4,500 meters. Can fly at extremely low altitudes from 5 to 10 meters.

The helicopter made its first flight in 1974, serial production began in 1981.

The Mi-24P is designed to strike concentrations of manpower, combat equipment, including armored ones, and destroy low-flying, low-speed air targets.

The crews of the Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-24P helicopters are equipped with night vision goggles, which allows them to fly at night.

Bombs and rockets

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CONCRETE BOMB BETAB-500

The BetAB-500 concrete-piercing bomb was developed at the Basalt State Research and Production Enterprise. Designed for the destruction of concrete structures, bridges, naval bases. The main task of the bomb is to pierce the roof of a fortified facility, these can be underground fuel or lubricant warehouses or weapons, various concrete fortifications. BetAB-500 is capable of breaking through 1 meter of concrete buried 5 meters into the ground. In medium-density soil, this ammunition forms a crater with a diameter of 4-5 meters. Such parameters are achieved, firstly, due to the trajectory of the bomb falling - vertically downwards. After being dropped from an airplane, a special braking parachute opens at the ammunition, which directs the BetAB to the ground. In addition, when the parachute is fired, a rocket accelerator is activated in the tail of the bomb, which creates additional speed for the ammunition to meet the target. The mass of the bomb warhead is 350 kg.

BetAB has a reinforced shell compared to a conventional high-explosive bomb, which helps break through concrete and other fortifications.

ROCKETS KH-29L AND KH-25ML

The X-29 family of missiles were developed in the USSR and put into service back in 1980. Currently, the modernization and production of ammunition is carried out by the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation.

Missiles of this type are designed to destroy ground targets such as strong aircraft shelters, stationary railway and highway bridges, industrial structures, warehouses, and concrete runways.

In the Kh-29L version, the missile is equipped with a laser homing head. In Syria, these missiles are used by Su-24M front-line bombers and Su-34 fighter-bombers.

The missile is equipped with a high-explosive penetrating warhead. Before launching a missile, the pilot can set the option for the missile to fire - instantaneous, upon contact of the missile with the target, or delayed firing.

The firing range of the Kh-29L missile is from 2 to 10 km.

The rocket has a powerful combat unit weighing 317 kg with an explosive mass of 116 kg.

Kh-25 is an aviation guided multi-purpose air-to-surface missile equipped with a semi-active homing head (GOS). The Kh-25ML missile is equipped with a laser seeker.

Designed to destroy small targets both on the battlefield and behind enemy lines. Capable of breaking through up to 1 meter of concrete.

The maximum launch range is 10 km. Flight speed - 870 m/s. Warhead mass (warhead) - 86 kg.

KAB-500S

This adjustable bomb is designed for high-precision destruction of stationary ground targets - railway bridges, fortifications, communications centers. The bomb is highly accurate due to its inertial-satellite guidance system. The ammunition can be used effectively both day and night in any weather.

The bomb can be dropped at distances from 2 to 9 km from the target and at altitudes from 500 meters to 5 km at a carrier aircraft speed of 550 to 1100 km/h. Bomb mass in different options- 560 kg, mass of high-explosive concrete-piercing warhead - 360-380 kg.

The probable circular deviation of the bomb from the target, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, is 4-5 meters, according to the manufacturer - from 7 to 12 meters.

KAB-500S has a fuse with three types of delay.

A direct hit from two such aerial bombs in Syria destroyed the headquarters of the Liwa al-Haq formation, and more than 200 militants were immediately eliminated.

OFAB DIFFERENT WEIGHTS

Free-fall high-explosive fragmentation bomb. It is used to destroy weakly protected military targets, armored and unarmored vehicles, and manpower. It is used from altitudes from 500 meters to 16 km.

In Syria, these munitions are used by Su-25SM attack aircraft.

CRUISE MISSILE X-555

Subsonic air-launched strategic cruise missile, modification of the X-55, equipped with a conventional warhead.

The missile is equipped with an inertial Doppler guidance system, which combines terrain correction with satellite navigation. X-555 can be equipped different types Warhead: high-explosive fragmentation, penetrating or cassette with different types of elements. Compared to the X-55, the mass of the warhead was increased, which led to a reduction in the flight range to 2000 km. However, the X-555 can be equipped with conformal fuel tanks to increase the cruise missile's flight range to 2,500 km. According to data from open sources, the circular probable deviation (CPD) of the missile ranges from 5 to 10 m.

According to data obtained from a video recording of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Kh-555 missiles were used from Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft, which carried them in the intra-fuselage compartments.

Strategic missile carriers of these types are equipped with an MKU-6-5 drum-type launcher, which can carry 6 air-launched cruise missiles.

CRUISED MISSILE ZM-14

On October 7, 2015, 3M-14 cruise missiles of the Caliber NK complex were successfully used during the Russian military operation in Syria.

Three small missile ships of Project 21631 of the Caspian flotilla (Uglich, Grad Sviyazhsk and Veliky Ustyug) and the Project 11661K patrol ship Dagestan fired 26 missiles at 11 ground targets located at a distance of about 1,500 km. This was the first combat use of the missile system.

The missile ships of projects 11661K and 21631 included in the flotilla are equipped with launchers of tactical cruise missiles "Caliber" (according to NATO classification - SS-N-27 Sizzler).

The Kalibr missile system was developed and produced by the Novator Design Bureau in Yekaterinburg on the basis of the S-10 Granat complex, and was first introduced in 1993.

Ground-, air-, surface- and underwater-based complexes and export versions have been created on the basis of "Caliber". Currently, different types of Caliber complexes are in service with Russia, India and China.

Data on the maximum range of only the export version of the missile was officially disclosed; it is 275-300 km. In 2012, at a meeting with the President of Dagestan Magomedsalam Magomedov, Vice Admiral Sergei Alekminsky, who at that time held the post of commander of the Caspian Flotilla, said that the tactical version of the cruise missile of the Caliber complex (3M-14) could hit coastal targets at a distance of up to 2,600 km.

The tactical and technical characteristics of the 3M-14 missile are classified information and are not publicly available.

2019 TASS information agency (registration certificate mass media No. 03247 issued April 2, 1999 G state committee Russian F Federation of Press)

Some publications may contain information not intended for users under 16 years of age.

First of all, I wanted to talk in detail about this with the Chief of the General Staff - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov.

At the beginning of the conversation, I remembered an anecdote about a dirk and a watch, told by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a recent press conference. I told Valery Vasilyevich that such an anecdote probably warmed the soul of every military man.

— How did he seem to you, Valery Vasilyevich?

Valery GERASIMOV(VG):

- Very relevant, good anecdote. With a deep meaning.

Victor BARANETS (WB):

— Valery Vasilyevich, how did we manage to transfer our large group of troops to Syria so quickly and secretly in the fall of 2015? I then read in the American press that the generals there were almost in a panic. They did not expect such agility from our army. And they even complained that their intelligence was late...

VG: — The operation was carefully planned, all issues were taken into account, the necessary forces and means were determined. This refers to both the combat component and the support component. But we had virtually no experience in transferring troops and forces over such a distance, to the territory of a state that does not border our country. There was only one example in 1962 - Operation Anadyr, when the USSR transferred troops to Cuba. We also took that experience into account. The training our units received during surprise inspections also came in handy. During them, they practiced transferring over long distances, using all types of transport... aviation, rail, sea. The regrouping was carried out as secretly as possible, without attracting special attention. 50 units of aviation equipment were concentrated at the Khmeimim airfield...

VB: — Over what period approximately? In a month, in a week?

VG: — All this took about a month... The supporting component required more time. We had to create an infrastructure, a comprehensive support system, including logistics.

VB: — Why, when planning the operation in Syria, did our General Staff initially not provide for the use of ground units and units, and the main emphasis was placed on aviation? What was the “trick” here?

VG: — We assessed the condition of the ground forces of the Syrian armed forces. Despite the fact that they participated in hostilities for a long time and suffered losses, individual units were still able to carry out their tasks. It was necessary to resolve issues primarily related to reconnaissance of targets, their destruction by fire, and disruption of the enemy’s control system. These are precisely the problems that our aerospace component could solve. And directly on the ground sectors, combat operations were carried out by Syrian units with the participation of our military advisers. There were also detachments of patriotically minded sections of the population.

Therefore, the deployment of a ground component was not initially envisaged.

Another important task is to organize the control of all troops and forces taking part in hostilities. For this purpose, a command post of our group was deployed in Khmeimim and control posts in the directions where hostilities are taking place.

VB: — How did our General Staff take into account the peculiarities of terrorist tactics? What was the first thing you paid attention to here?

VG: — We have experience in fighting terrorists, and we, of course, took it into account. In addition, with the beginning of events in Syria, the General Staff monitored the situation and knew the specific tactics of these gangs. We understood that in addition to terrorist actions, they also use tactical methods. At the head of these gangs were commanders specially trained by instructors from a number of countries in the Middle East and Western countries. There were also former Iraqi army officers. They captured during the period while the fighting was going on, a large number of weapons and equipment of the Iraqi and Syrian armies. They had up to 1,500 tanks and armored vehicles alone. Plus about 1,200 guns and mortars. It was actually a regular army.

VB: — What is the maximum number of terrorists you remember from intelligence reports? At the moment when we started the operation?

VG: — As of September 30, 2015, there were about 59 thousand of them in Syria in all formations. Plus, over the past 2 years they have managed to recruit about 10 thousand more...

VB: — A full-fledged army, one might say...

VG: - But over these 2 years, according to our data, about 60,000 militants were actually destroyed, of which over 2,800 came from the Russian Federation.

VB: — The Americans reported that their coalition aircraft had made about 7,000 sorties by September 30, 2015. They bombed for two years. But why did it happen that before we entered the war with terrorists, they expanded control over the territory of Syria from 20 percent to 70 percent? What was the American coalition doing there?

VG: — It seems to me that the coalition did not set a goal at that time, and even now, for the final defeat of ISIS*. Look, the number of strikes by the international coalition all this time was 8-10 per day. Our aviation, with rather insignificant forces, carried out 60-70 strikes daily against militants, against infrastructure, and at their bases. And during periods highest voltage- about 120-140 beats per day. Only such methods could break the back of international terrorism in Syria. And 8-10 strikes a day... Well, apparently the coalition had other goals. Their main goal was to fight Assad, not ISIS.

VB: — For the first time since the creation of the National Defense Control Center, where we are now, the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense have fully utilized this structure. How did she show herself?

VG: — The creation of the National Defense Management Center radically changed the approaches to managing the entire military organization of the state. In particular, we felt this from the experience of conducting operations in Syria. When all types of communications are available, daily data collection and situation analysis are organized. It has become comfortable to work, and we do not feel a lack of information.

VB: — Were many problems solved in the “on line” mode?

VG: - Of course. The Minister of Defense and I observed strikes, for example, by our aviation, missile forces, and long-range precision weapons on screens in real time.

The drone transmits a picture, the commander at the command post in Khmeimim sees it, and we in Moscow see the same thing. But he controls, the commander!

VB: — Why, in more than two years of our operation in Syria, have we not been able to agree with the coalition led by the United States on a joint fight?

VG: — We tried to negotiate from the very beginning, and we succeeded. We concluded a Memorandum on compliance with aviation safety. By the way, this Memorandum is faithfully observed by both parties. We entered into an agreement with the Americans and with Jordan, according to which the Southern De-Escalation Zone was created. It became the first such zone in Syria. This was a major breakthrough. All our other proposals for organizing joint planning, conducting reconnaissance, destroying terrorists were met with misunderstanding, refusal... We saw no desire on their part to interact. Although, of course, this would be of great benefit. Joint planning, striking, conducting operations...

VB: - Nevertheless, the Americans put forward some claims to us... They say that our planes flew too dangerously close to their planes... What actually happened there?

VG: — With the deployment of hostilities and the approach of Syrian government troops to the Euphrates in eastern Syria, we, indeed, with the Americans established zones demarcating the actions of the aviation of our Aerospace Forces and the international coalition. What is it? Our aviation (VKS) operates west of the Euphrates, and American aviation operates to the east. But not along the entire length of the Euphrates, but along the de-escalation line.

VB: — Was it marked on the maps?

VG: - Yes, it is marked. If you imagine a map, then at the level of Deir ez-Zor... And we go to the east... Suvar, Abert Laba, and the transition to the border with Iraq. This is about 120-130 kilometers from Abu Kemal to the north. Joint actions were planned in this triangle. Just the area where active hostilities were taking place. In this area, east of the Euphrates, the joint use of both aerospace forces and international coalition aviation was envisaged, with notification to the appropriate party. And there were no problems. One unpleasant incident occurred on December 13th.

VB: — And what is the essence of this case?

VG: — Two Su-25 aircraft of our Aerospace Forces performed reconnaissance and search missions in the western part of the Euphrates River valley. No one went to the east. Our Su-35 was also there. An American F-22 aircraft left the eastern part of Syria, simulated several approaches, indicated an attack, and fired heat decoys. He was at a high altitude, then dived to a lower one. There were less than a hundred meters left to our planes. He was a real danger. Our Su-35 arrived. The F‑22 immediately went east to its zone. About 20 minutes passed. The Su-35 went to carry out its tasks. The F-22 appears again...

VB: - The same?

VG: - The same. Same story again. The Su-35 comes again. As soon as he appeared, the F-22 left. The American was playing a dangerous game.

VB: — The Americans have established their base in Syria. Is she still there?

VG: Yes, there is. At-Tanf.

VB: — And according to your information, what are they doing there?

VG: — This base is in the south of Syria, it is limited to a section of terrain with a radius of 55 kilometers. This is the border of Syria, Jordan and Iraq. There is a base there. According to space and other types of intelligence, there are militant detachments on it. They are actually preparing there. Moreover, the British BBC television channel recently reported how the evacuation of militants from Raqqa was organized. Four hundred people were taken by the Kurds under American cover to the Shaddadi camp in northeastern Syria. This is Kurdish-controlled territory and there is also an American base there. In addition, about 800 more people arrived at the Shaddadi camp from the eastern bank of the Euphrates, from the area where the Kurds were advancing...

VB: - These are all shortcomings...

VG: - This is actually ISIS. But after the work done with them, they are repainted and take a different name - “New Syrian Army” and others. Their task is to destabilize the situation. We know that about 400 people left the Shaddadi camp for the al-Tanf area. After the main forces of ISIS were defeated, they tried to destabilize the situation by advancing from the eastern bank of the Euphrates. But they suffered losses. We think about 750 people are now in Shaddadi and about 350 in al-Tanf.

VB: - Do you mean militants?

VG: - Yes, militants. In Al-Tanf, the entire area is blocked by Syrian troops along the perimeter of this 55-kilometer zone. The most important thing is that for several months we have been observing the movement of militants from there. When control was weaker, even about 350 militants left the al-Tanf area. There was a threat of capture of the city of Karyaten in Syria. We took action in time... The defeat was inflicted, these forces were defeated. There were also prisoners from these camps. It is clear that preparations are underway there. Moreover, there is a Rukban refugee camp there, the largest in Syria.

VB: - Right there? In this zone?

VG: — Right in this zone, somewhere 25 kilometers west of Al-Tanf. There are over 50 thousand Syrian refugees there. A Reconciliation Center has been created in Syria as part of the Russian military group.

He actually coordinates and manages the delivery of all humanitarian aid, humanitarian convoys, our Russian and UN ones. These convoys go everywhere, although there are enough problems that need to be resolved both with the government and with the UN, but it doesn’t work out in Rukban: the Americans don’t let them there - neither the Syrians, nor the other convoy. People are suffering. We say: the location of this American base defies common sense. Now it’s even more so - the territory of Syria has been liberated from all ISIS gangs, there is no one left there, there is no threat to you from the territory of Syria. What's there? For what purpose? So far the answers are unclear. But new terrorist groups may appear there...

VB: — You just said that new armed formations are being created, American instructors are training militants... But we won’t have to return to Syria those planes and helicopters, those personnel that are now being transferred to Russia?

VG: — As you know, we still have two bases there. One in Khmeimim, air force, and the second, naval, in Tartus. In addition, we are closely involved with the Syrian government troops; our advisers are located in almost all units. Over two years, officers and junior command staff of the Syrian army received a lot of practice. Now they are able to conduct military operations and defend their territory. With our strength, from our bases, we can provide assistance if necessary. These forces are quite sufficient to maintain the stability and territorial integrity of Syria.

VB: — I understood correctly that we are leaving these two of our bases to continue helping the Syrian government army, right?

VG: - Yes, because the situation is still unstable.

It will take some time to achieve complete stability, so the bases are there for good reason, they are necessary there. So that what happened before September 2015 does not happen again... On the other hand, we must not forget that Russia also has its own interests in the Middle East...

VB: — During the operation in Syria, how often both you and the Minister of Defense had to discuss the progress of the operation with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Was this done face to face in the Kremlin, at the General Staff or by telephone?

VG: - In different ways. Usually, I report to the Minister of Defense every morning and evening about the state of affairs and the progress of tasks, and he reports to the President. 1 – 2 times a week, the Minister reports to the President personally, presenting Required documents, maps, video materials. Sometimes the Supreme Commander-in-Chief contacts me personally, sometimes together with the Minister we go to report to him. The president determines goals and objectives, he is aware of all the dynamics of military operations. Moreover, in every direction. And, of course, it sets goals for the future.

VB: — The Information Department of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the General Staff informed the public almost every day after almost every missile and bomb strike against terrorists in Syria. Why, in your opinion, did the American coalition not act in the same way?

VG: — About 8 months ago they also started informing and providing reports. Of course, the difference is fundamental. They do it from time to time, but we do it on a daily basis. The Center for Reconciliation speaks out, gives summaries on all issues, and the Department of Information, the Main Operational Directorate... Why do people need to guess what is happening there? We need to tell you what happened that day, what your plans are...

VB: — What was the most difficult thing for the General Staff when planning a military operation in Syria?

VG: — The most difficult thing in preparation and in the initial period of an operation is organizing interaction with government troops, with all the various groups. There are many detachments from the patriotic population. They are armed, we are bringing them to the side of the government forces. It was not easy to establish interaction between all these detachments and our Aerospace Forces, to organize all types of support. But we have already learned this. Everything is in order and working fine. A modern command post has been created in Khmeimim, which provides control over the grouping of our troops in Syria. The work is going smoothly.

VB: — What adjustments did the General Staff make to the actions of our troops in the fight against terrorism? Still, this was essentially the first clash in the history of Russia between our troops and such large formations of thugs.

VG: — Adjustments are made constantly. Because approaches, forms, and methods of action are changing. First in small quantities, then the use of jihad mobiles by terrorists became more widespread. And it was necessary to react to this...

Thus, during the battles for Deir ez-Zor and other settlements in the Euphrates River valley, the use of jihad mobiles became almost widespread. At first there were 2-3 jihad mobiles, and then 7-8 - this is in one battle. What it is? This is a car, infantry fighting vehicle or tank filled with explosives. There could be 300-400 kilograms of explosives or more. It is controlled by a suicide bomber. He chooses the shortest route to the positions of government troops. He moves towards them with great speed and carries out an explosion. There may be two or three such machines.

On this section of the front there were massive losses, many killed and wounded. This is a huge explosion. Panic... A gap is created - depending on the power of the explosive and the number of jihad mobiles used. In the summer of 2016, in the Aleppo region, three jihad mobiles managed to leave the city in exactly this way. Two Syrian government checkpoints were blown up. A gap 500-700 meters wide was formed. The militants' actions were planned in advance; they struck on both sides of this corridor and broke through the encirclement. Then it took about three months to restore the lost positions, and with heavy fighting.

Naturally, this does not fit into the framework of, let’s say, normal military operations. But conclusions had to be drawn...

VB: - And what?

VG: - Firstly, constant surveillance is carried out. The road directions they can follow are determined. In these directions, barriers, minefields, and so on are built, and a fire destruction system is organized, starting from distant approaches. These are ATGMs, tanks, and, as they approach, grenade launchers. As a result, 2-3 jihad mobiles were destroyed at the advance stage, others - when approaching leading edge. The troops learned to counter them. In addition, all settlements were prepared by ISIS for all-round defense; apparently, the labor of the local civilian population was used there. In fact, a second city was being built underground: communication passages, all the necessary infrastructure. Assault troops must be able to fight in such conditions.

VB: — Where did ISIS get such a huge number of Toyotas?

VG: — All these years they have received a flood of help from a number of countries, including the Middle East... And through non-governmental foundations. It’s not just cars – it’s just the civilian component. And modern weapons, new ammunition, modern means...

Reconnaissance equipment, binoculars, night sights, communication systems - everything is modern, not antediluvian.

VB: — There is information that some of the ISIS fighters are already in Afghanistan, in Jordan. Where else is this infection spreading?

VG: — Some are returned to the countries from which they came illegally. The bulk moves to Libya, to the countries of South-West Asia. Afghanistan cannot be ruled out either - the soil there is fertile for them.

VB: — How do you assess the state of the Syrian armed forces at the beginning of the operation and today?

VG: — The difference is big. During the war, by the fall of 2015, the Syrian armed forces had actually lost their entire territory. 10% of Syrian territory remained under government control.

VB: — This is at the moment when we started the operation?

VG: - Yes. The situation was very difficult. Both morale and fatigue. Lack of ammunition, necessary types of support, control. Our operation began, and after some time the first successes appeared. Any victories inspire, inspire, now the Syrian army has acquired good experience. We helped them, repaired the equipment on the spot... Today, the Syrian army is capable of carrying out tasks to protect its territory.

VB: — How many of our military personnel went through the Syrian campaign?

VG: - More than 48 thousand soldiers and officers. Of these, every fourth was awarded or nominated for a government award. Everyone received departmental awards.

VB: — How do you assess the role of our military advisers who worked as part of the Syrian army?

VG: — I highly appreciate their role. Each unit - battalion, brigade, regiment, division - has a military adviser's office. It contains the necessary officials. These are operational personnel, reconnaissance officer, artilleryman, engineer, translators and other officials. They are, in fact, planning military operations. Provide assistance in managing units during combat missions. In all directions, actions are linked by a single concept, a single plan, and leadership is carried out from the group’s command post in Khmeimim.

VB: — Did the General Staff have a goal to test as many military personnel as possible in Syria?

VG: - Yes. And we did it. Not just military personnel - the most important thing is to test commanders and officers. The commanders of the district troops - they all visited there, and for a long time. Everyone commanded the group. All chiefs of staff...

VB: There were 4 or 5 of them changed, commanders?

VG: - Dvornikov, Kartapolov, Surovikin, Zarudnitsky, Zhuravlev...

VB: — You gave them the opportunity to manage at this level, right?

VG: - They arrived with the main staff of their administrative apparatus: the heads of operational management, intelligence, communications, missile forces and artillery, engineers...

VB: - So they took their staff and tested the whole apparatus?

VG: - In the same way, the command of armies is also all, 90% of divisions, and more than half of the regiments and brigades.

VB: — That is, we now have a command staff that is seasoned in these battles... Having real combat experience.

VG: - They have combat experience, yes.

VB: - Valery Vasilyevich, I would like to return once again to this question: we remain in Khmeimim, we remain in Tartus. You said this is to help the Syrian army, right?

VG: - Yes, for possible help.

VB: Yes. You didn't mention the naval component. Will some of the ships be in the eastern Mediterranean? Just like we are standing there now? The ships are ours. Or will we leave?

VG: — We’re not going anywhere. Our regular fleet of ships is now operating in the Mediterranean on a permanent basis.

VB: — It also remains, right?

VG: — It was operating there even before the events in Syria, since 2015.

And we will remain on a permanent basis...

VB: — You have been to Syria more than once, met with our soldiers and officers, looked them in the eyes... What impression do you have from communicating with these people, with your subordinates? ... With those people who carried out your orders, the orders of the Supreme Commander, the Minister of Defense.

VG: — The impressions are good, the most positive. What immediately catches your eye is the desire to complete the task - at any cost... Good combat coordination. And this is very good, because officers are sent there without additional training, but on a rotation basis... For three months. This means that the entire system of combat training of troops and command and control agencies is working, people are ready to carry out tasks, and there they demonstrate this in practice. Our officers and military personnel performed many heroic and courageous deeds, demonstrated resilience, and trained the Syrians.

Over time, we have come to the point where there are more Syrian units that are capable of attacking and have acquired combat stability... Brigadier General Hassan Suhel and his units performed very well in offensive operations against terrorists.

But without our advisors such success would not have happened.

VB: — Will the General Staff have to learn the lessons of the Syrian campaign?

VG: — Studying and generalizing experience always happens. From the first day of this campaign, such work was carried out... All incidents that occurred, the experience of combat operations were carefully studied, communicated to all units and to the military personnel who were just about to leave there, so that all this was taken into account. We held several conferences to exchange experiences. A number of manuals summarizing this experience have been published.

VB: — A large number of our weapons were tested in Syria. How does the General Staff evaluate them?

VG: — We tested more than 200 types of weapons and equipment there, modern ones - those that were recently adopted for service, that were about to be adopted, that were already in service. It seems that all state tests have passed, and during the exercises everything is shown to be normal... But during the execution of a combat mission, some problems arise that were not noticed before. We have to improve something. Our officers and military personnel reported on the problems that arose. In Syria, continuous military-scientific support was provided during the use of all types of weapons and equipment.

VB: - They say that our designers and engineers were there, right?

VG: — Engineers, designers, military scientists. The developers were all there. For each type of weapon, its positive sides what needs to be improved. Now the vast majority of these shortcomings have been eliminated. The fact that we tested equipment and weapons in combat conditions is a huge deal.

Now we are confident in our weapons.

VB: — During this time, did you often have contact with the Chief of the General Staff of Syria?

VG: — Often.

VB: Is this mostly done over the phone?

VG: — Both by phone and in person. I came to him, and he came to me in Khmeimim... We went together to separate destinations. Constantly.

VB: — Does he know Russian, does he already speak more or less?

VG: — He studied with us at the Frunze Academy.

VB: — Recently, the Minister of Defense, on behalf of the President of Russia, presented awards and expressed gratitude to everyone who ensured the security of Putin’s visit to Syria. Well, on the day when, you know, when he announced the withdrawal of the group to their homeland. Was this a special operation?

VG: — Such events are not held randomly. Careful preparation is required. The necessary forces and means were involved: on the ground, in the air, at sea, to ensure the safety of this visit. They coped with their task.

VB: - Can you make a forecast of further developments in Syria? Here, at least for 2018?

VG: — On the military side – completion of the destruction of the militants of Jabhat al-Nusra* and others like them. Some of the militants of this terrorist organization are in de-escalation zones.

There are many different formations there. Some support a cessation of hostilities. Jabhat al-Nusra is categorically against it. This means they will have to be destroyed.

VB: - Are these large groups?

VG: - Different. More in Idlib, less in other areas. Differently. I think that after a certain time they will be finished. Moreover, in the de-escalation zones the cessation of hostilities is maintained. Humanitarian aid arrives there, social issues, everyday issues are resolved...

The second task is to translate the military solution of the issue into a political channel. Into the mainstream of a political settlement. And she decides. Preparations are currently underway for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress...

VB: — Our long-range bombers, when they flew for combat work in Syria, they also flew through the space of Iraq and Iran. Were there any problems when you requested airspace?

VG: — We have well-established interaction with the military of these countries and there have been no failures.

VB: — The Russian army, in my opinion, has never used so many drones as in Syria. How do you assess the importance of this type of technology, given the Syrian experience?

VG: — In Syria now, on average, there are about 60-70 drones in the sky every day. They conduct reconnaissance, there are drones that carry out electronic countermeasures and solve other issues.

We have made big strides in drones in 5 years. Previously, we only had in service the old Soviet Reis type. Nowadays, it is unthinkable to conduct combat operations without a drone. It is used by artillerymen, reconnaissance officers, pilots - everyone. With the help of drones, reconnaissance-strike, reconnaissance-fire contours are created.

VB: — How did the Special Operations Forces perform in Syria?

VG: — The special operations forces, in fact, have gone through their formation and showed their best side. We were engaged in directing aircraft to targets, eliminating gang leaders, and a number of other tasks. We are very pleased with the experience they had.

VB: — Will all our military personnel who went through Syria be recognized or have already been recognized as participants in the hostilities?

VG: - Yes, there is an addition to the law “On Veterans”, it has been adopted, they are combat veterans.

VB: “In some media there are “opinions” that the Russian army had nothing to do in Syria. How would you respond to this?

VG: — If we had not intervened in Syria, what would have happened? Look, in 2015 there was just over 10% of the territory under government control. A month or two, and by the end of 2015 Syria would be completely under ISIS. Iraq for the most part too. ISIS would continue to gain momentum and spread to neighboring countries. Several thousand of our “compatriots” went there to fight. We would have to face this force on our own territory. They would operate in the Caucasus, in Central Asia, in the Volga region. Problems of a much larger order would arise. We broke the back of ISIS in Syria. In fact, our Armed Forces defeated the enemy on the distant approaches to the borders of our state.

VB: — What could the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces wish to the military and their families in connection with the coming 2018?

VG: - Who wants peace most? Military. Therefore, I want to wish all military personnel and members of their families a peaceful sky above their heads, good health, and further success in your service.

September 30, 2017 marks two years since Moscow responded to Damascus’ request to help in the fight against terrorism and began a military operation in Syria. What has been done for peace in Syria?

According to the latest data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, over the past two years in Syria, 87% of the entire territory has been liberated from IS 1 militants (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation). A huge amount of credit goes to this. Russian aircraft carried out more than 30 thousand combat sorties and carried out about 100 thousand targeted strikes against targets (including infrastructure facilities of international terrorists) that were established in advance. The operations were carried out by attack aircraft and front-line bombers, flying daily from the Khmeimim airbase, as well as by strategic aircraft.

One of NATO's analytical reports compared the effectiveness of Russian aviation and the air force of the Western coalition. And the analysts' conclusions were far from being in favor of the latter. Thus, 40 Russian fighters stationed in Syrian Latakia carried out up to 75 sorties per day, each time delivering “precise and effective strikes” against IS positions. And, having a total of 180 combat aircraft, they destroyed only 20 targets every day and often returned to base with unused ammunition. It turns out that with a small number of people, the efficiency of the Russian Aerospace Forces was four times higher!

Thanks to efficient work Almost 54 thousand extremists were destroyed by aviation: for two years the militants stood on the outskirts of the capital of the Syrian state, hatching plans to seize it, and today almost 90% of the country’s territory has been liberated from terrorists.

In addition to the areas where Islamists were deployed, the pilots’ targets were command posts and training camps, ammunition depots and clandestine factories, as well as other facilities that were sources of income for the radicals.

We are talking about oil fields, pipelines and fuel pumping stations located in provinces rich in natural resources, over which the Islamists have firmly held control for several years. In the first year of Russia's military operation in Syria alone, 184 oil refineries and about 10,000 other facilities, including fuel tanker convoys, were destroyed by air strikes. The damage caused to the militants’ infrastructure was so significant that it practically “bleded” the international terrorist organization, cutting off the main financial arteries.

The forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces played a decisive role in carrying out operations to liberate cities of strategic importance - Aleppo and Palmyra. During the liberation of Aleppo, the lives of 100 thousand civilians were saved, which is a merit of the Russian Aerospace Forces aviation, which showed coherence of action.

During active hostilities in the Palmyra area, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a unique operation to liberate the city of El-Qaryatein, to which the militants fervently clung. For them, this city was of great importance, since it was located on a highway that passed through the desert. The radicals tried to transfer reinforcements from Raqqa to El-Qaryatein about 30 (!) times, but each time the radical detachments were identified and destroyed by the Russian Aerospace Forces on the approach to the city.

In the course of military operations and with active air support from Russian aviation, control over a section of the Syrian-Iraqi border in southern Syria (length of more than 180 kilometers), as well as the Syrian-Jordanian border in the provinces of Es-Suwayda and Damascus (length of 195 kilometers) has now been restored ).

Another powerful psychological effect actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria was the almost complete cessation of mass acts of intimidation by ISIS terrorists, expressed in barbaric executions and other crimes. This was achieved thanks to several air retaliation operations, which again convinced ISIS of the accuracy and effectiveness of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

But the main result of Russia’s two-year military operation in Syria was a gradual turn towards a peaceful direction in the country, tired of many years of civil war. Russia's active support allowed Syria to establish a calm life in Damascus. The reconstruction of Aleppo is in full swing - more than 140 thousand civilians have already returned here and are establishing the work of enterprises. Thanks to the professional actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces, it was possible to preserve at least part of the monuments in Palmyra and break through the long-term blockade around Deir ez-Zor. After the terrorists were driven out of the gas and oil fields of the provinces rich in these minerals, the opportunity of Syria arose. Air support, which was carried out from the Khmeimim airbase for two years, led to a radical change in the situation in the country, which until recently stood on the threshold of physical survival.

According to military experts, success in Syria is the result of the competent leadership of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the use of the right tactics in the fight against terrorism, as well as the coordinated work of the Russian Aerospace Forces. As a result, Syria received a real chance to preserve state power in the country.

1 The organization is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The military campaign in Syria was not the first foreign operation of the Russian army. However, the scale of the mission is not comparable to the battles fought by Russian troops in Tajikistan in the 1990s and South Ossetia in August 2008.

In September 2015, transport aviation and the Navy created the infrastructure necessary to accommodate combat aircraft, helicopters, air defense systems and marine units of the Black Sea Fleet at the Syrian air base in Khmeimim. As the operation progressed, the troops were replenished with additional weapons.

The latest military equipment has received a baptism of fire. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 162 samples of modern and modernized weapons were tested.

The flap of steel wings

The main means of defeating terrorists in Syria is aviation. Since the fall of 2015, missile and bomb attacks on militants have been carried out by Su-24M front-line bombers and Su-25SM attack aircraft. Both aircraft are modernized versions of models that have been in service for more than 30 years.

Despite their nominal venerable age, the vehicles regularly perform tasks to destroy armored vehicles, warehouses, command posts, underground tunnels and bunkers of the Islamic State*.

In 2016, the Su-35C was transferred to the Khmeimim base, which is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27 fighter, designed in the late 1970s.

In June 2017, at the Khmeimim base, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was presented with a Su-27SM3 with the latest RVV-SD medium-range air-to-air missiles. To date, 12 Su-27SM3 have been produced based on the export Su-27K.

Two more Sukhoi Design Bureau aircraft are taking part in the fight against IS: the Su-34 fighter-bomber and the Su-30SM multi-role fighter.

To destroy ground targets, the Russian Aerospace Forces use Shturm anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), the Vikhr anti-tank missile system (ATGM), and Kh-25ML/Kh-29T air-to-surface missiles. The fighters are equipped with R-73/R-27R air-to-air missiles.

Also, combat aviation used various types of aircraft bombs: adjustable aircraft (KAB-500L/KAB-500KR), high-explosive (BETAB 500Sh/FAB-500 M62/FAB-500 M54/OFAB 250-270/OFAB 100-120), disposable bomb clusters (RBK 500 AO 2.5 RT/RBK 500 SHOAB-0.5) and propaganda bombs (AGITAB 500-300) (the index after the abbreviation indicates the total weight of the bomb. - RT).

In battles with terrorists, Russian pilots developed new methods of approaching a target, allowing them to achieve high bombing accuracy when using unguided projectiles.

During the Syrian campaign, Russian long-range aviation several times used what were probably the best strategic cruise missiles in the world, the Kh-101. This ammunition is capable of providing destruction accuracy of up to 10 meters with a destruction range of up to 5500 km.

• Aircraft technicians prepare a Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft for a combat mission at the Khmeimim airbase in Syria
• RIA News

Massive strike

Army aviation in Syria is represented by Mi-8 helicopters, Mi-24, Mi-28N Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack vehicles modified for military needs.

Helicopters participate in airbase security, search and rescue operations, and destroy concentrations of manpower and armored vehicles using Ataka and Whirlwind ATGMs. Army aviation is protected from defeat from the ground by the President-S electronic countermeasures complex. During the Syrian operation, only four helicopters were lost.

The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers received their baptism of fire in the Syrian skies. On November 17, together with Tu-22M3 bombers, they launched a massive cruise missile attack on militant positions; as a result of the successful attack, 14 key terrorist infrastructure facilities were destroyed.

The Russian military widely used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Syria: light Orlan-10, Eniks-3 and heavy Forposts, which are produced in the Russian Federation under an Israeli license. The total number of drones in the SAR is estimated at 70 units.

"Orlans" and "Enixes" are used to patrol the garrison around the base, for search and reconnaissance missions in a limited radius. “Outposts” have a longer flight range and therefore participate in combat aircraft sorties, registering missile and bomb strikes. In addition, drones are used to correct artillery fire.

In order to ensure flight safety in the area around the seaport of the Tartus base and the Khmeimim airfield, mobile radar tracking (radar), electronic warfare (EW) and air defense (air defense) stations are used.

The Russian air defense system in Syria is represented by the S-300 and S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems, the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system and the Buk-M2 air defense system.

Protection of wireless communication channels is provided by the Svet-KU mobile radio monitoring and information protection complex. Also in Khmeimim there is an electronic warfare complex “Krasukha”, designed to counter aircraft and satellites.

Air defense forces were strengthened in 2015 after the incident with the downing of a Russian Su-24M bomber by the Turkish Air Force. Aviation flight rules were also changed - all bombers, including long-range aviation, had to be accompanied by fighter aircraft.

Attack from the sea

One of the most striking events of the Syrian operation is the launch of Caliber cruise missiles against IS targets. They were first used on October 7, 2015 by four small missile ships of the Caspian flotilla of project 21631 Buyan (Dagestan, Grad Sviyazhsk, Veliky Ustyug and Uglich).

• From the waters of the Caspian Sea, missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike with 18 cruise missiles of the Caliber-NK complex against terrorist positions
• Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The Russian Navy carried out several launches of Caliber missiles from an underwater position. On December 9, 2015, the diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don, Project 636.3 Varshavyanka, struck IS. The launch took place from the Mediterranean Sea.

For the first time in Russian history, carrier-based aircraft were used. The combat cruise of the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov lasted from October 2016 to January 2017. Su-33 and Mig-29K fighters carried out 1,300 strikes against militants.

40% of strikes by unguided aircraft munitions were carried out using automated target designations received from the Admiral Kuznetsov. The cruiser is equipped with an automated flight data preparation system ASPPD-24, which interacts with the sighting and navigation system of Su-33 aircraft - SVP-24-33.

In rotation mode, cover for aviation and the Khmeimim base from the sea is provided by the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Moskva, equipped with the S-300 Fort anti-aircraft missile system. The cruiser Moskva has 64 missiles in its arsenal. "Moskva" is on duty alternately with the missile cruiser "Varyag".

• The cruiser "Moskva" during joint military exercises between Russia and China in the Mediterranean Sea
• Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

New ground equipment

Among ground vehicles, armored vehicles "Typhoon-K" (designed on the basis of KamAZ) and "Typhoon-U" (designed on the basis of Ural) have proven themselves well. In combat conditions, the vehicles confirmed their high protective characteristics. It is known that Typhoons in Syria are used by Russian military police units.

The external frame of the Typhoons consists of a monobody made of steel and includes additional ceramic ballistic protection systems in the most vulnerable areas. Typhoon-K is additionally equipped with a filter for protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. The passenger compartment capacity is 10 people.

An important role in offensive operations in Syria was played by the TOS-1 Buratino and TOS-1A Solntsepek flamethrower systems. The vehicles fire unguided thermobaric projectiles with high accuracy firing at a distance of up to 6 km and extremely powerful lethality.

• TOS-1A "Sun"
• RIA News

According to foreign sources, the Syrian army has up to 30 Russian T-90 and T-90A tanks at its disposal. Western analysts claim that Russian cars showed high level effectiveness in battles against terrorists. There are no losses among Russian equipment.

At the beginning of September 2017, the General Director of JSC Ural design department transport engineering" Andrei Terlikov said that the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) was tested in Syria.

The vehicle is designed to cover tanks in urban combat. Her the main task- detect and destroy a grenade launcher crew, engineering structures and enemy armored vehicles, as well as low-flying air targets.

Jewelry work

The top martial art Western media often call the Russian army the jewelry work of the Special Operations Forces (SSO). This structure of the Russian Armed Forces united army special forces units. The formation of the MTR was completed in 2013.

Special operations forces are highly mobile, well-equipped, professionally trained squads of fighters. Their main task in Syria is to carry out additional reconnaissance of terrorist targets for subsequent air strikes.

Forward air controllers of the MTR detect targets in Syria suitable for attack by aircraft and transmit the coordinates of IS targets. Special forces operate in the rear and, judging by information published in the media, often engage in battle with jihadists.

A scheme of interaction has been worked out in Syria various types armed forces, when reconnaissance and strike contours operate in a single connection. Satellites, UAVs and special forces detect the target, correct the data and carry out additional reconnaissance, after which the aviation and navy launch a missile and bomb strike, recorded by drones.

• Military personnel during a military parade at the Russian Khmeimim airbase
• RIA News

This became possible thanks to the use the latest systems management and exchange of data coordinating the actions of troops. The wired communications existing in Syria were almost completely destroyed, so the Russian military established a satellite communications network.

For this purpose, not only stationary repeaters of the Tetra system were used, but also mobile and portable satellite communication stations. They are used, among other things, to coordinate military actions with the Western coalition.

Interest in Russian weapons

Director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) Ruslan Pukhov told RT that the Syrian operation has spurred interest in Russian weapons. Demonstration of the combat capabilities of the Russian army objectively strengthens Moscow’s position in the global arms market.

“Of course, it cannot be said that Russia used any weapons, and there was immediately a demand for them. Purchase military equipment- the process is slow. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Moscow’s active position on the Syrian crisis has attracted attention to our military equipment,” Pukhov stated.

The expert also emphasized that the Syrian operation made it possible to improve military-political relations with a number of states. Pukhov recalled the agreement on a contract with Turkey for the sale of the S-400 complex and the statement by Qatar’s Minister of Defense Khaled bin Mohammed al-Atiyah about the emir’s order to purchase Russian weapons.

“It is enough to remember how Ankara and Doha criticized Russia in 2015 for supporting Assad’s “bloody regime” and how the situation has changed now. The operation in the Arab republic contributed to the growth of Russia’s political weight and its position on the world stage,” Pukhov explained.

In his opinion, Russia, unlike the United States, is ready to offer its partners unique weapons. In particular, Pukhov noted the Iskander operational-tactical complex and the Kornet anti-tank missile system, which the Special Operations Forces use in Syria. In addition, the expert believes that the T-90 tank is the “bestseller” on the world market.

Syrian exam

Analyzing the results of the Syrian campaign, experts interviewed by RT noted the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the personnel and command staff. Analysts also stated that the military equipment in service confirmed the declared combat qualities.

“In general, the Russian army successfully completed its tasks. For the first time, we deployed a group in a distant theater of military operations, created a system material support, communication and control system. As a result, we received a full-fledged military infrastructure in Syria,” Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, told RT.

The expert drew attention to the fact that Moscow has established military communications with all foreign states that are involved in the conflict. This made it possible to coordinate efforts to combat militants and quickly resolve security issues.

• Russian Su-24 aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria
• RIA News

“If we talk about the shortcomings that are always inherent in all armies in such operations, then I would explain them primarily by the lack of optical-electronic reconnaissance and long-range radar detection aircraft. Although, without a doubt, the development of the Russian Armed Forces is moving in the right direction,” Murakhovsky said.

Ruslan Pukhov also believes that the Russian army has demonstrated serious success in Syria, gaining much-needed combat experience. In his opinion, the mission to the Arab Republic helped to identify both strengths and vulnerabilities Russian troops. In this regard, Russia has outlined additional tasks to improve the army.

“Despite the obvious achievements, it would be wrong to conclude that everything is perfect. It is quite obvious that we are still missing an entire class of weapons. In particular, I mean small-sized aerial bombs. In addition, Russian pilots experience certain difficulties when destroying moving targets,” Pukhov noted.

The editor-in-chief of UAV.ru, aviation expert Denis Fedutinov, drew attention to the shortage of heavy UAVs in the Russian Armed Forces. According to him, the Russian army is armed with short-range reconnaissance drones.

“Syria confirmed the importance of the massive use of heavy weapons unmanned vehicles, which could hover in the air thousands of kilometers from the launch site and strike the enemy. In this field, we should not lag behind the United States and Israel,” Fedutinov said.

However, according to the expert, over the past five years Russia has been making serious efforts to solve problems with UAVs. In particular, work is underway on the Orion (weighing about one ton) and Altair (about 5 tons) projects. Fedutinov predicts that heavy drones will begin to enter service in about three years and will most likely be tested in Syria.

* The Islamic State (IS, ISIS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.

IA SakhaNews. On January 3, 2018, it became known that on December 31, 2017, a Mi-24 combat helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed 15 km from Hama airfield in Syria. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, both pilots died as a result of the hard landing. The helicopter flight technician was injured and was promptly evacuated by the search and rescue team to the Khmeimim airfield, where he received the necessary medical assistance. The Russian military department reported that the cause of the disaster was a technical malfunction; “there was no fire impact on the Mi-24.” TASS has prepared a press dossier about the losses of the Armed Forces in Syria.

According to official publications of the Russian Ministry of Defense and representatives of Russian regional authorities, during the military operation in Syria, which began September 30, 2015, died as a result of hostilities 41 Russian serviceman (including the pilots who crashed on December 31, 2017). In addition, one non-combat loss was recorded - on October 27, 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Technical Specialist, contract soldier Vadim Kostenko, committed suicide at Khmeimim airbase.

November 19, 2015 A captain of the Russian Armed Forces died while performing a combat mission. Fedor Zhuravlev. The officer ensured the guidance of air-launched cruise missiles at terrorist positions; the details of his death are unknown. The loss was officially confirmed on March 17, 2016 at the awards ceremony for the operation participants. Fyodor Zhuravlev was awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).

November 24, 2015 The Su-24M front-line bomber (tail number "83 white", registration number RF-90932) of the Special Aviation Group of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria was shot down by an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter of the Turkish Air Force in Syrian airspace The pilots managed to eject, but fire was opened on them from the ground, the pilot was a lieutenant colonel. Oleg Peshkov died. According to the Turkish side, the bomber was shot down due to violation of the Turkish air border. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied the fact that the Su-24M was in Turkish airspace. Russian Aerospace Forces helicopters flew out to search for the pilots; during the operation, one of them (Mi-8AMTSh) was damaged by shelling from the ground. A contract marine and sailor died on board Alexander Pozynich. The helicopter made an emergency landing on neutral territory, the crew and personnel of the search and rescue group were evacuated, and the vehicle itself was later destroyed by mortar fire from territory controlled by gangs. Navigator of a downed bomber - captain Konstantin Murakhtin- was rescued by special forces of the Russian Armed Forces and the Syrian army. On November 25, 2015, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, captain Konstantin Murakhtin and sailor Alexander Pozynich (posthumously) were awarded the Order of Courage.

February 1, 2016 As a result of mortar fire by militants of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS, banned in the Russian Federation) on one of the Syrian army formations, a Russian military adviser, lieutenant colonel, was mortally wounded Ivan Cheremisin. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the officer performed tasks to assist the Syrian army in the development of new weapons supplied under existing interstate contracts for military-technical cooperation. The serviceman was posthumously nominated for a state award.

March 17, 2016 in the area of ​​​​the settlement of Tadmor (Palmyra, Homs province), a senior lieutenant of the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Armed Forces was killed while carrying out a mission to direct attacks by Russian aircraft on the targets of ISIS terrorists Alexander Prokhorenko. Finding himself surrounded by terrorists, he turned the fire on himself. Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced the death of Alexander Prokhorenko on March 24, 2016. On April 11, 2016, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Monuments to Alexander Prokhorenko were erected in Smolensk (2016), Orenburg (2017) and Valli Sotto (Italy, 2017).

April 12, 2016 While flying in the area of ​​Homs, a Mi-28N helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed. Both crew members were killed - commander Andrey Okladnikov and navigator Victor Pankov. According to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense, “there was no fire impact on the helicopter.” According to the preliminary conclusions of the military department commission, the cause of the disaster was a pilot error.

May 7, 2016 A sergeant of the Russian Armed Forces died in a field hospital in Syria Anton Erygin, who on May 5 was seriously injured in Homs province while carrying out tasks to escort vehicles of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties. The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced the death of a serviceman on May 11. He was awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).

June 3, 2016 near Palmyra artillery reconnaissance captain Marat Akhmetshin entered into battle with superior terrorist forces. While repelling an attack by militants, the officer destroyed several combat vehicles, but was mortally wounded. On June 23, 2016, for courage and heroism in performing special tasks, Marat Akhmetshin was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

June 7, 2016 A junior sergeant of the Russian Armed Forces died in a Moscow hospital Mikhail Shirokopoyas, who was seriously injured by a mine in the Syrian province of Aleppo in May 2016. The death of a serviceman was officially confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense on June 16, 2016. Mikhail Shirokopoyas was awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).

June 16, 2016 A soldier guarding a humanitarian convoy of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria died in a field hospital. Andrey Timoshenkov, a day earlier, was seriously injured in a suicide car bombing in Homs province. The Russian military prevented a car filled with explosives from breaking through to the place where humanitarian aid was being distributed to civilians. Awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously).

July 8, 2016 in the Syrian province of Homs, Russian instructor pilots flew over a Syrian Mi-25 helicopter with ammunition (according to other sources, they piloted the Mi-35M of the Russian Aerospace Forces). During this period, east of Palmyra, a large detachment of IS militants attacked the positions of the Syrian troops and, having broken through the defenses, rapidly moved deeper into the area, threatening to capture the dominant heights. The crew of the car decided to attack the terrorists. Having used up its ammunition, the helicopter, while turning back, was hit by fire from the ground and fell in an area controlled by the Syrian government army. Both crew members were killed - pilot colonel Ryafagat Khabibullin and pilot-operator lieutenant Evgeniy Dolgin. On July 28, 2016, Ryafagat Khabibullin was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

July 22, 2016 A Russian contract serviceman was killed in Aleppo province Nikita Shevchenko. He was driving a convoy escorting a convoy carrying food and water for local residents. At the entrance to the village, an improvised explosive device planted by the militants was detonated next to the car. Nikita Shevchenko was nominated for a state award posthumously.

August 1, 2016 In the Syrian province of Idlib, a Russian Mi-8AMTSh helicopter (tail number “212 yellow”, registration number RF-95585) of the Russian Aerospace Forces was shot down as a result of shelling from the ground. He was returning to Khmeimim air base after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo. There were crew members on board Roman Pavlov, Oleg Shelamov And Alexey Shorokhov, as well as two officers of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, all of them died.

August 12, 2016 head of Kabardino-Balkaria Yuri Kokov confirmed in your account in social network Instagram ("Instagram") the fact of the death of a Russian serviceman in Syria Asker Bizhoeva(unofficial reports were published by the media in May 2016). According to the statement of the head of the republic, Bizhoev died heroically while performing a combat mission on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic and was awarded the Order of Courage (posthumously). The Russian Ministry of Defense did not officially comment on reports of the death of Asker Bizhoev.

December 5, 2016 in Aleppo two Russian nurses - sergeants Nadezhda Durachenko And Galina Mikhailova from Birobidzhan - died when anti-government rebels shelled the medical campus of the mobile hospital of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Another Russian doctor (a pediatrician) was seriously injured Vadim Arsentiev), local residents who arrived to see doctors were also injured. December 8, 2016 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin awarded Nadezhda Durachenko and Galina Mikhailova with the Order of Courage (posthumously); Vadim Arsentyev was also awarded the Order of Courage.

December 7, 2016 The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a guard colonel of the Russian Armed Forces died in the hospital Ruslan Galitsky, who was injured in Syrian Aleppo during artillery shelling by “opposition” militants of one of the residential areas in the western part of the city. The colonel, who was on a business trip to Syria as a military adviser, assisted the command staff of one of the Syrian army formations in organizing the training of units and subunits, as well as in mastering military equipment. On December 8, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Ruslan Galitsky the Order of Courage (posthumously).

February 16, 2017 died as a result of a car explosion on a radio-controlled landmine four and were injured two Russian military personnel. A column of Syrian troops, which was accompanied by a car with Russian military advisers, was moving towards the city of Homs when a radio-controlled charge went off under the car. Among the dead was Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Sinin, on October 19, 2017, in his native Michurinsk (Tambov region), a memorial plaque was unveiled in his honor on the memorial alley.

March 2, 2017 in the Palmyra area, while repelling an attempt by a group of ISIS militants to break through to the positions of Syrian troops, where Russian advisers were located, a serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces, a private contract soldier, was killed Artem Gorbunov. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, he was posthumously nominated by the command for a state award.

April 11, 2017 The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the death two Russian contract soldiers as a result of mortar fire from militants. According to the department, more one a Russian serviceman was seriously injured.

April 20, 2017 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the death of Russian military adviser Major Sergei Bordov as a result of an attack by militants on a garrison of government troops. The serviceman was part of a group of military advisers, carrying out training tasks for one of the units of the Syrian troops. During an attack by militants, a Russian officer organized the actions of the Syrian military, preventing terrorists from breaking through into a residential town. During the battle, Major Sergei Bordov received mortal wounds. The command presented him with a posthumous state award.

May 2, 2017 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the death of a Russian military adviser, Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Buchelnikov, who was engaged in training personnel of artillery units of the Syrian troops. During a combat training session, a Syrian unit came under fire from a militant sniper, resulting in Lieutenant Colonel Buchelnikov being mortally wounded.

July 11, 2017 The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that in the Syrian province of Hama, as a result of a mortar attack by militants on a town of Syrian government troops, a Russian serviceman, captain, was killed Nikolay Afanasov. He was in the Syrian Arab Republic as part of the apparatus of Russian military advisers, performing the tasks of training personnel of units of the Syrian ground forces. Captain Afanasov was posthumously presented by the command for a state award.

September 4, 2017 The Ministry of Defense reported the death two Russian military personnel under contract. The soldiers accompanied a vehicle convoy of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties, which came under mortar fire from militants.

September 24, 2017 The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Lieutenant General Valery Asapov, a senior group of Russian military advisers in Syria, died near Deir ez-Zor as a result of mortar fire from IS terrorists. The lieutenant general was at the command post of the Syrian troops, assisting the Syrian commanders in managing the operation to liberate Deir ez-Zor, and was fatally wounded by a mine explosion. The command presented Valery Asapov with a high state award posthumously.

October 1, 2017 The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that a colonel died from severe wounds received in Syria at the Main Military Clinical Hospital named after Academician N.N. Burdenko in Moscow Valery Fedyanin. He organized the delivery of humanitarian aid by the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Warring Parties to one of the settlements in the province of Hama. The colonel was injured on September 22, 2017, when terrorists detonated a landmine under the car he was driving. According to the military department, doctors fought to the last for the life of Valery Fedyanin, but they could not save him.

October 10, 2017 At the Khmeimim airbase (Lattakia province), a Su-24M front-line bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces, while accelerating for takeoff to carry out a combat mission, rolled off the runway and collapsed. Aircraft crew (pilot Yuri Medvedkov and navigator Yuri Kopylov) did not have time to eject and died. There was no destruction on the ground. According to preliminary data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the cause of the disaster could have been a technical malfunction of the vehicle.