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Fight against Islamic state

Defense ministry disproved reports about Russian plane downed in Syria’s Raqqa

Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces didn't conduct missions in that region on April 14

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. The information saying a Russian plane has been downed near Syria’s Raqqa today does not correspond to reality, spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

"The report by Qatar’s television company about a Russian plane allegedly downed by terrorists of ISIL [former name of the Islamic State terrorist organization outlawed in Russia] near Raqqa (Syria) is a provocation," he said.

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"Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces did not work today, on April 14, in that region," Konashenkov added.

According to him, all planes of the Russian aviation group in Syria are staying at the Khmeimim airbase.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.

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