Live. The beginning of Russia's military operation in Syria. Russian military operations in Syria

September 30 marked two years since the start of the Russian military operation in Syria. Thanks to Russian support, Syrian government forces were able to take control of 50% of the country, and the Russians, in turn, used military action to strengthen their position in the Middle East. In addition, they were able to test equipment and control systems in combat conditions, as well as practice actions different types armed forces.

The operation in Syria was the first mission since Afghanistan that Russia conducted outside the post-Soviet space. In its course, the Russians used the potential of the Aerospace Forces, Special Operations Forces, military police and the Navy. The Russian military is cooperating with the Syrian army, as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and Shiite militia. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 40 servicemen were killed during the operation, while unofficial sources say that the losses were twice as high. Thanks to Moscow’s efforts, it was possible to begin the peace process, the fruit of which was, in particular, the creation of four de-escalation zones. Russia, Iran and Türkiye acted as guarantors of the truce.

Air and sea operation

The most ambitious element of the Russian military operation in Syria was the actions of the Aerospace Forces. Over two years, the VKS carried out about 30,000 combat flights and carried out approximately 90,000 strikes against ground targets. The mission of aviation was to isolate the battlefield, support ground forces, destroy important enemy targets, and conduct maneuvers that prevented him from regrouping forces or receiving reinforcements. The air force used modern aircraft in service, including Su-35 fighter jets and Mi-35 helicopters. Aviation support was provided by forces. The Aerospace Forces used the Khmeimim base to conduct their operations. In 2017, under an agreement with the Syrian authorities, the Russians received a 49-year lease.

The Navy also took part in the operation, primarily the Mediterranean squadron was involved. It consists of the Northern, Pacific, Black Sea and Baltic fleets on a rotational basis. No more than 10 ships were involved in the action at the same time. The squadron was supported by the Caspian Flotilla. The Russians deployed the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov (for the first time in a combat situation), submarines of the Varshavyanka project, as well as frigates and cruisers of various types, from which they launched Caliber missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of 2,600 kilometers. The naval base was located in Tartus.

Participation in the operation of other units

In addition to the Aerospace Forces and Navy, Special Operations Forces were also deployed in Syria, which were deployed there in 2015. For the units created in 2009 during the modernization of the army, this was the first such large-scale action. In Syria, they liberated populated areas, coordinated air and artillery attacks, and participated in reconnaissance and defensive operations. At the same time, Russian special forces were present in Syria. The SOF also interacted with Syrian special forces. The operation in Syria was not only a baptism of fire for the Special Forces in a full-scale armed conflict, but also made it possible to put into practice strategic plans (military doctrine), as well as the so-called Gerasimov doctrine, which emphasizes the importance of special forces in new types of wars.

The task of the Russian armed forces, including such units as the Special Forces, was, among other things, to coordinate actions with the Syrian army leading the main ground operation, as well as with the Hezbollah movement and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards. In addition, the Russians are actively involved in training and equipping the Syrian military.
For the first time, Russia has decided to station military police abroad. There are currently four battalions of these forces (approximately 1,200 people) in Syria. Their main task is to ensure the functioning of checkpoints on the borders of de-escalation zones.

Russian doctors are serving in Syria, and specialists from the International Mine Action Center of the Russian Armed Forces took part in demining. According to the Russians, they were able to clear an area of ​​5,300 hectares. Private military companies from Russia also operate on Syrian territory (some of them are also present, in particular, in Ukraine and Libya). As in North Africa, they are engaged in the protection of hydrocarbon deposits and their transport infrastructure.

Military consequences

The Russian operation changed the balance of power in the region. As Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, thanks to the actions Russian army Syrian government forces were able to recapture about 1,000 settlements, including the strategically key Palmyra and Aleppo. The so-called Islamic State (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation - editor's note) now controls only 5% of the territory of Syria.

Military operations allowed the Russians to test their military equipment in combat conditions. During the operation, in particular, the Iskander and Bastion complexes, the Caliber missile system, and the X-101 were used. New control systems (the capabilities of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation were used) and electronic warfare systems were also tested.

The cost of the entire operation is estimated at one billion dollars (Russia allocates from 2.5 to 4 million dollars for it every day). In total, the Russians tested about 600 samples and equipment in Syria. Thus, the Russian military industry had the opportunity to test its products in combat conditions and begin work on their improvement, which will undoubtedly contribute to an increase in the value and number of international contracts for the supply of weapons that will be concluded in the coming years.

Conclusions and prospects

The operation in Syria had both military and political significance for Moscow. Its immediate effect was to strengthen the power of Bashar al-Assad, in addition, the Russians managed to strengthen their position as a negotiator on Syria. The operation also helped stop the threat posed by ISIS far from Russia's borders, as required by its military doctrine.

The Syrian operation showed that the capabilities of the Russian army (including Special Operations Forces) in conducting operations outside the former USSR have increased. The Russians were able to return the Tartus and Khmeimim bases, ensuring the prospect of their functioning in the future. The level of trust of Russian society in the army increased from 64% in 2015 to 69% in 2017, which was, in part, the result of a large-scale media campaign covering the military’s successes in Syria.

The course of the operation showed that the Russians were able to achieve maximum effect with relatively small means (without involving ground forces). This demonstrated the changes that had taken place in Russian strategy conduct of modern wars (at first there were fears that the actions of the Russian Armed Forces would be compared with the operation in Afghanistan, where the Soviet army spent almost 10 years and did not achieve real results, and at the same time suffered heavy losses).

Representatives of the Russian authorities say that they will complete the mission only when the Syrian leadership gains full control over the entire territory of the country. It should be expected that Russian forces will remain there in any case, acting as a guarantor of the functioning of the existing regime, since the Syrian army is not strong enough. It can also be assumed that Russia will continue military and political cooperation with Iran and Turkey, including within the framework of the Astana process.

In addition, Moscow will certainly show a desire to act in Syria under the auspices of the UN, for example, to become part of a peacekeeping mission. She will try to reach an agreement in this area with European states, first of all, with all members of the International Syria Support Group. At the same time, the topic of how to resolve the Syrian conflict will continue to play an important role in further political and military rivalry with the United States.

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 care. 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 was recorded non-combat loss- 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 airspace Syria. The pilots managed to eject, but fire was opened on them from the ground, pilot 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 presence of the Su-24M 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 fire from the ground. A contract Marine died on board - a sailor 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 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 serviceman 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 pilot instructors 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 formations of the Syrian army in organizing the training of units and subunits, as well as in developing 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 in his honor was unveiled 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 Syrian units 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 Russian Ministry of Defense 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.

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    • Illustration copyright AFP

    Da year ago Russia officially enteredVSyrianth war - 14 months after the United States did it.

    On September 30, 2015, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) carried out their first airstrikes on Syrian territory. Since then, they have flown more than 30,000 sorties and carried out more than 90,000 airstrikes (data released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on September 21).

    In two years, according to official information, almost 40 Russian servicemen were killed. The media also reported the death of Russians who took part in hostilities outside the Ministry of Defense.

    By the time of the Russian intervention in Syria, a civil war had already been going on for five years between the army and other forces supporting President Bashar al-Assad, rebels opposed to him and Islamists, including militants of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS) banned in Russia.

    The BBC Russian service has summed up the interim results of the Russian campaign.

    Why is Russia involved in the Syrian civil war?

    The main objectives of Russia’s military actions are “to stabilize the legitimate government and create conditions for finding a political compromise” in Syria, Vladimir Putin said in October 2015. Under "legitimate authority" Russian President meant the Assad regime.

    Moscow also seeks to destroy the Islamic State and the Jabhat al-Nusra group (banned in Russia, both organizations appear on the UN sanctions list) and other associations that it considers terrorist.

    Illustration copyright Tass Image caption Russia (Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu - left) is one of the few allies of the Bashar al-Assad regime (right)

    Sometimes these tasks conflict with each other. “The very first clumsy and brutal military operation was not aimed at ISIS, but against the Free Syrian Army, which posed a direct threat to the regime,” noted New York University professor and expert on Russian security issues Mark Galeotti in October 2015.

    There is a widespread view among analysts that the true purpose of Russia’s intervention in the conflict is the desire to increase its weight in the international arena and use the Syrian issue in bargaining with other world powers.

    By 2015, the active phase of the war in Donbass, which was the main foreign policy plot of the previous year for Russians, ended.

    “He [Putin] needed a diversionary maneuver to hide the failure of the war in eastern Ukraine,” argued Swedish economist and diplomat and Russia expert Anders Aslund.

    By what forces is Russia participating in the war?

    Military airstrikes, the presence of military advisers, military police, special forces.

    In addition, the navy is used, including for missile strikes.

    The media also reported that mercenaries from private military companies from Russia were taking part in the fighting. This has never been officially confirmed.

    What has changed in Syria in two years?

    Government troops have significantly expanded the area of ​​their control over the country. Among other things, Assad and his military allies (including Iran and Lebanon) regained control of the country's largest city, Aleppo, in December 2016.

    At the same time, the borders of the Islamic State have shrunk. Among other things, IS lost a number of oil fields: oil smuggling served as one of the group’s important sources of financing.

    Click Two years of Russia in Syria

    September 2017


    September 30, 2015


    How much of this is due to Russia?

    Although Assad's troops have noticeably expanded their zone of influence since Moscow's intervention, the question remains who made the main contribution to the successful fight against the Islamic State.

    The American research center RAND Corporation considers the taming of the Islamic State a merit of the United States, which entered the war in early August 2014, and “to a lesser extent” of Russia, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and Iran.

    Who is fighting on the side of Russia, and who is against?

    Moscow's clear enemies in the war are ISIS and grouping "Hey'at Tahrir al-Sham"(represents a union "Jabhat al-Nusrs" and dozens of other similar groups).

    Government troops can be called allies of Russia Syria, Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

    Moscow has difficult relations with other parties. At the very beginning of the operation, Russia was criticized for attacks on representatives of the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army (FSA), which they openly support USA in its fight against the Assad regime and the Islamic State.

    "Stroytransgaz" Gennady Timchenko, a businessman from President Putin’s inner circle, started a business in Syria even before the start of the war.

    In 2007, Stroytransgaz completed the construction of the Arab gas pipeline from the Jordanian-Syrian border to a gas station in the Homs area under a contract with the Syrian Gas Company. The company also built a gas processing plant in Syria near Homs. Construction of another gas plant near Raqqa continues.

    In April 2017, Stroytransgaz received a contract to restore phosphate deposits near Palmyra. Damascus is also ready to offer Stroytransgaz contracts for the restoration of Palmyra destroyed during the fighting, said Senator Dmitry Sablin during a visit to Syria in April 2016.

    Simply patriotic Russian businessmen also tried to find their own business benefits in war-torn Syria. Owner of a shoe manufacturer and retailer Zenden(second in terms of turnover in the Russian Federation) Andrey Pavlov decided to start producing shoes in Syria in the fall of 2016.

    Before this, some of the shoes for the brand were made in Turkey. After the armed forces of this country shot down a Russian plane, the businessman decided to curtail his production there. In addition, it was cheaper to make shoes in Syria.

    As a result, Zenden shoes are produced in a factory in Latakia, near a Russian military base. And in the Russian stores of the chain, special shelves with a sign “Made in Syria” appeared.

    By now, Pavlov has “given up” with shoe production in Syria, the businessman himself told the BBC Russian Service. “We might collaborate during the season,” he added, noting that the factory only produced summer shoes.

    The Russian Ministry of Defense was unable to promptly respond to requests for information regarding this material sent by the BBC Russian Service.

    Events around Russian troops in Syria on September 30 are developing rapidly - in the morning, President Vladimir Putin received permission to use troops abroad, and a few hours later the media reported the first airstrike. Medialeaks is opening a live broadcast that will collect news, opinions and reactions of Russians to the official appearance of Russian troops in Syria.

    20:15. First day of official Russian intervention in civil war in Syria is coming to an end, we will stop broadcasting until tomorrow. So far, the result is this: according to the Syrian opposition and Western news agencies, 36 people were killed as a result of the first airstrikes of the Russian Air Force in seven different regions of Syria. The US administration and the Syrian opposition openly point out that Russian planes did not attack Islamic State militants. Russia insists on its right to help the government of Bashar al-Assad, which it recognizes as the only legitimate one in Syria. The version of the resolution on Syria proposed by Russia, which proposes to counter IS and “other terrorist organizations,” is still being considered.

    20:10. Turkish media write that Russia hit ISIS, al-Nusra, and SAS, in general, everyone except the Kurds and Assad.

    20:00. CNN quotes an administration official trolling our military: Russian air force bombing in Syria does not serve a strategic purpose.

    Another reaction from the USA:

    19:30. The Americans are not far behind. ISIS is being bombed near Aleppo, Reuters reports. And Russian Jen Psaki - Maria Zakharova - tells everything about us, that is, about informational stuff.

    “We had no sooner launched the operation than photographs of alleged victims were published on social networks. What can I say: we all know perfectly well how such shots are filmed and how they are made. The speed with which it was all prepared is amazing. The famous film "The Tail Wags the Dog" is a visual training manual By the way such stuffing is done, the scale becomes international.”

    19:10. Reuters has video of the bombing. They write that this is amateur photography near Homs.

    19:00. Spiteful critics report that Assad’s troops are also not wasting any time and are dropping cluster bombs on Daraya (a suburb of Damascus).

    Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem gave an interview to the RT Arabic Bureau and said that Syria trusts us.

    “Without a doubt, we have full confidence in the position of Russia and President Vladimir Putin, who has made the country's intentions clear in the fight against terrorism.”

    The BBC, by the way, has a clearer map of who controls what in Syria. Pink - Assad, red - Hezbollah, green - opposition (SAS, including), purple - Kurds, yellow - ISIS.

    18:55. Still, France did not like the start of Russia’s Syrian campaign. Strikes in Syria should be carried out only against the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations, all these actions must be verified, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said at a briefing.

    18:45. We haven't had any photo materials on our broadcast for a long time. An anti-Hezbollah account shows a prayer over the bodies of those killed after the Russian bombing of Talbisah.

    18:40. Oops! Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev does not exclude the possibility that the fight against ISIS could affect not only the territory of Syria, but also neighboring states, Interfax writes.

    “I do not exclude any scenarios for the simple reason that it is impossible to try to solve the problem of ISIS in any one segment, understanding that those whom the Syrians are chasing with our help can crawl beyond some virtual border, recover, recharge and pass course of treatment. I apologize for the incorrect comparison, but when you poison an insect, it is not enough to send it to your neighbors’ kitchen - this makes our efforts to counter terrorism pointless.”

    18:35. Europe is kind of behind us. The French Foreign Minister at the UN Security Council said that we need to act together. And even before this, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said: “It is impossible to achieve peace without Russia’s participation.” The Chinese speak out in a more streamlined manner, and it can be understood that they do not like either the United States or Russia in Syria. Here is how TASS quotes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

    “China considers it counterproductive to impose foreign settlement models in the Middle East from outside, without taking into account the specifics of the region.”

    It is necessary to convene a conciliatory conference “Geneva-3” as soon as possible - without preconditions and with the participation of all stakeholders, Wang Yi added. 18:25. Meduza reached those who were bombed in Homs.

    “This afternoon two planes flew over our city. They fired eight missiles. These attacks targeted residential areas of the city. The strikes killed 16 civilians. Three of them are children, two are women,” says a resident of the Talbis suburb.

    18:15. The contradiction between Hama and Homs has been resolved. The Syrian opposition reports that they bombed both there and there. Thanks to the Snob project for the translation:

    “Russian aircraft attacked the village of Zafarana, north of Homs, and the town of Latamina, near the city of Hama.”

    “Echo of Moscow”, citing state-run Syrian television, reports that among the seven areas that our pilots hit today, the outskirts of Homs and the province of Hama are named. 18:05. Lavrov proposed a Russian draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria, which, along with ISIS, contains the wording “and other terrorist organizations.” You can put anything under this later.

    “Today we are presenting to the members of the Security Council a draft of such a resolution. It builds on previously adopted Council documents with an emphasis on building coherent counter-terrorism actions based on the norms and principles of international law.”

    And to some it’s all a joke, meanwhile.

    18:00. So is there ISIS in Homs or not? News agencies do not have a common opinion on this matter.

    17:50. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chairs a meeting of the UN Security Council #rightnow, and says that:

    “The Russian Air Force operation in Syria is aimed only at combating terrorism, the United States has been notified of this.”

    “The Syrian opposition forces have become well established in social media for four years, and they know a lot about what it’s like to be under bombs. Russia cannot expect that bombing of civilians will not be recorded."

    Higgins also writes that he studied various video sources very well for recent years and confirms the reliability of those it reposts. Simply put:

    17:05. On Channel One, presenter Peter Tolstoy asked the show participants not to scold the United States. 17:00. TASS reports:

    Official account of the Ministry of Defense on Facebook:

    16:50. Great words from great people:

    Just in case, here is a quote from the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense Igor Konashenkov via Interfax:

    “In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) today began conducting an air operation to carry out targeted strikes on ground targets of ISIS terrorists in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, informed his colleagues in the CSTO that during the air operation in Syria, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces are striking military equipment, communication centers, vehicles, warehouses of weapons, ammunition and fuel and lubricants belonging to ISIS terrorists.”

    16:35. Former vice-president, Hero of Russia, Major General Alexander Rutskoy gives his expert assessment on Lifenews: what are the prospects for our troops in Syria.

    “Well, with aviation - two or three months, and everything will be finished.”

    Meanwhile, from the same source as the video of the bombings, there are videos of mothers mourning the children who died today. It is not yet possible to confirm the authenticity of the videos.

    Current discussions on other resources:

    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 Novosti

    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 has widely used unmanned aerial vehicles in Syria aircraft(UAVs): light Orlan-10, Eniks-3 and heavy Forposts, which are produced in the Russian Federation under an Israeli license. Total quantity drones in the SAR are 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.

    Channel protection wireless communication provides 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 planes.

    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 national history carrier-based aircraft were involved. 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 with 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 that have high firing accuracy at a distance of up to 6 km and extremely powerful lethality.

    • TOS-1A "Sun"
    • RIA Novosti

    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 the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering JSC Andrei Terlikov said that the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) had been tested in Syria.

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

    Jewelry work

    Western media often call the jewelry work of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) the pinnacle of the Russian army's martial art. 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 Novosti

    This became possible thanks to the use of the latest control and data exchange systems that coordinate 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. Buying military equipment is a slow process. 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 to a distant theater of military operations, created a material support system, a communications and control system. As a result, we received a full-fledged military infrastructure in Syria,” RT reported editor-in-chief magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky.

    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 Novosti

    “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 towards 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 the strengths and vulnerabilities of 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.

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

    “Syria has confirmed the importance of the massive use of heavy 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.