MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Russian sapper unit departed on Friday to Syria to conduct mine-clearing operations in the embattled city of Aleppo, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Servicemen from a forward-deployment sapper unit of the International Mine Action Center…boarded military transport planes at the Chekalov airfield to depart for the Hmeymim airbase [in Syria]," the ministry said in a statement.
The Russian General Staff said Wednesday that over 200 Russian servicemen and 47 pieces of combat and special equipment would be deployed for mine clearing in Aleppo.