The Russian military started an operation against the militants of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations (outlawed in Russia) in Syria on September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
According to Putin, the operation in Syria has demonstrated that the Russian army has improved its combat readiness. "The timely measures have improved combat readiness, combat capability of our Armed Forces. And this has been convincingly confirmed by the anti-terrorist operation we conduct at the request of the Syrian leadership," the Russian president said at a meeting that focused on defense industry sector issues.
The Russian aviation grouping comprises more than 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-30SM fighters and Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.
Since the start of its operation in Syria, the Russian Aerospace Forces grouping has performed hundreds of sorties to destroy dozens of ammunition depots, factories producing explosives and command posts. Besides, overnight to October 7, the Caspian Flotilla ships delivered a massive strike on the IS objectives in Syria, using Kalibr NK shipborne cruise missiles.
Since the beginning of the operation, the Russian pilots have destroyed more than 2,000 terrorist facilities.
The Russian authorities have said on many occasions that Russia’s military forces would not take part in any ground operation in Syria.
Putin does not plan to visit Russian military contingent in Syria
12 November 2015
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Russian President Vladimir Putin so far does not plan to visit the Russian military contingent in Syria. "No, not yet," presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov replied when asked if Putin had any plans to visit Syria.
