MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Su-34 planes have arrived at the Khurba Airfied, Khabarovsk Region, after successfully completing their mission in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The crews of the Su-34 bombers have returned to the base airfield in the Khabarovsk Region. The pilots flew from the Hmeymim airfield, having successfully completed their tasks on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry reported that the special events devoted to the crews’ arrival were attended by commander of the Joint Air and Air Defense Force of the Eastern Military District Maj. Gen. Viktor Afzalov, representatives of the Yunarmiya youth military-patriotic social movement and veteran organizations, as well as the comrades-in-arms and relatives of the returned servicemen.
"Today, we welcome the sons of their Motherland who performed their military duty with honor and dignity beyond Russia’s borders, in the Syrian Arab Republic. I greet you and congratulate you on your return to our Far Eastern land! I thank you for your professionalism and loyalty to the Motherland! The command of the Krasnoznamenny Joint Air and Air Defense Force is proud of you," Afzalov said at the official ceremony.
On December 11, speaking before servicemen at the Hmeymim airfield, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian Defense Minister, General of the Army Sergey Shoigu to withdraw the Russian troops from Syria.