Russian Federation suffered the biggest single loss of life of its 10-monthlong mission in Syria when five people died in a military helicopter that was shot down after delivering aid.
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The Syrian and Russian governments say three humanitarian corridors have been opened to allow for the distribution of badly needed food and medical aid to civilians and to provide residents – along with rebels who choose to surrender – the opportunity to leave. But at a news briefing Monday, Lieutenant General Sergei F. Rudskoi, a senior member of the Russian general staff, said it had been shot down over territory controlled by the Nusra Front and “the so-called moderate opposition”. The bodies of the pilots were recovered and brought back to Russian Hymeimim air base.
Meanwhile some twitter users also questioned the Russian Defence Ministry’s version of the situation, pointing out that the crashed helicopter was equipped with rocket pods.
All the five people aboard a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter were killed on Monday when the aircraft was downed by hostile ground fire in Syria, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
It’s universality and high-flying capabilities make it a popular Russian-made helicopter, claims the manufacturer.
The group is part of a coalition of insurgent groups called Jaish al-Fateh, or Army of Conquest, which has captured most of Idlib.
Images shared on social media purportedly showed a dead man stripped of his clothes.
The helicopter appears to have broken up as it crashed.
Some 18 Russian service personnel have been killed since Moscow began airstrikes in Syria in September past year.
The helicopter had three crew members and two officers from the Russian reconciliation center.
In July, two Russian pilots were killed when their helicopter was shot down east of the city of Palmyra by so-called Islamic State (IS).
Monday’s developments come a day after Syrian rebels launched the offensive to break up the government’s siege of eastern, rebel-held part of Aleppo.
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United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that United Nations special envoy Staffan de Mistura doesn’t want just want talks but “negotiations that can accomplish something”. The Syrian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not elaborate.
