Politics
22:31, 20-Feb-2018
Russia admits 'dozens' of its citizens hurt in Syria
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Moscow on Tuesday said dozens of Russian citizens were injured this month in Syria but denied any responsibility for their activities, amid mounting reports of casualties among Russian mercenaries.
The US coalition on February 7 struck a formation attacking a position of the Syrian Democratic Force east of the Euphrates river in eastern Syria, killing about 100 people. Many Russian mercenaries were reported killed in the strike, according to their relatives and paramilitary groups, as well as political organizations that published information about the casualties.
March 16, 2017: Russian Cossack commander Vladimir Bagliy shows a local newspaper with a picture of his fellow Cossack Yuri Sokalsky (R) killed near the Syrian city of Palmyra, in the Black Sea town of Gelendzhik, Russia. /VCG Photo
March 16, 2017: Russian Cossack commander Vladimir Bagliy shows a local newspaper with a picture of his fellow Cossack Yuri Sokalsky (R) killed near the Syrian city of Palmyra, in the Black Sea town of Gelendzhik, Russia. /VCG Photo
The Russian Foreign Ministry, which previously said that five Russian citizens were likely killed, on Tuesday released a statement that "there are also several dozen of injured" in the attack.
It said "there are Russian citizens in Syria who went there with various goals" and "it is not up to the Foreign Ministry to evaluate the legality of their decisions." It denied that the incident involved any Russian military.
The ministry said it had helped the injured Russians return home where they were "receiving medical care in various medical institutions."
Russian officials have long denied Russian mercenaries are in Syria fighting in the interests of the Syrian government.
Source(s): AFP