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Fight against Islamic state

Inside Russian airbase in Syria

The everyday life of Russian soldiers at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 15

Russian soldiers patrolling Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

A pilot in a cockpit of Su-30 4+ Generation multirole fighter aircraft

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russia's Su-25 armored jet aircraft

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian servicemen loading humanitarian aid into an Ilyushin Il-76MD airlifter ahead of sending it to residents of the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor

© Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry's Press Office/TASS

Russian soldier with his luggage outside a prefabricated house at Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian soldier in the library at Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian soldiers doing physical exercises at an outdoor gym

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian soldier at an outdoor gym

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian military canteen at the airbase

© AP Photo/Vladimir Isachenkov

Russian cooks preparing food at Hmeimim airbase

© AP Photo/Vladimir Isachenkov

A water treatment facility at the airbase

© AP Photo/Vladimir Isachenkov

Russian soldiers at a checkpoint at Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Grocery store at Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Laundry room at the airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian soldier jogging at Hmeimim airbase

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

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Three layers of Russian air defense at Hmeymim air base in Syria

Russia’s Aerospace Force started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. Russia's air group in Syria initially comprised over 50 aircraft and helicopters deployed at the Hmeimim airbase in the province of Latakia.

In mid-November, Moscow increased the number of aircraft taking part in the operation in Syria by several dozen and involved strategic bombers in the strikes as well.

TASS photojournalist Valeriy Sharifulin has visited Hmeimim airbase in Syria to capture the everyday life of Russian soldiers taking part in the military operation against terrorists.

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The Moscow Film Festival was founded in 1935, which makes it the world’s second oldest film festival after the Venice event

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Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

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Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

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Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

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The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

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Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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Earlier, the media reported, citing a US official, that Israel had launched a missile strike on a site in Iranian territory

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

"This is a plan of extremist government", Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN Riyad Mansour said

EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

"I think that the decision has been taken by the member-states - all 27 have agreed that we use the windfall profits following our proposal," Ursula von der Leyen said

Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

According to local sources, a radar station located at a military site along a highway connecting the towns of Qarfa and Izraa was disabled in the attack

At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

According to the Al Hadath television, a military bus was ambushed by members of the Islamic State terrorist group

Algeria pledges to return to Palestinian membership issue — envoy

"The overwhelming support for Palestine’s membership makes it crystal clear that the State of Palestine is worthy of its rightful place among member states of the United Nations," Amar Bendjama said

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

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The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

More than 100 employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies are fencing the shores and filling the least reliable dam segments

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

Viktor Orban believes the first phase of the conflict, which included proposals on sending troops to Ukraine, is over

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

Evacuation campaigns are regularly organized by the Kiev government, under the pretext of security issues

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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UN Security Council vote exposes practically full isolation of US — Russia’s UN mission

Vasily Nebenzya described the US veto as a "fruitless attempt to stop the inexorable course of history"

Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

According to Maria Zakharova, Moscow "regards this provocative attack as the latest move by the German side aimed at further twisting history, painting the course and outcome of World War II in an anti-Russian manner"

EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

Another source said MiG-31I differs from previous MiG-K option by "different engines, avionics and missiles"

Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

The two other State Duma members mentioned in the verdict alongside Karpov are Viktor Kazakov and Georgy Karlov

Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

The Russian embassy has called attempts to probe into the alleged involvement of Russian special services in the development of rumored plans for attacks on military facilities in Germany "absurd and ridiculous"

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

According to the media outlet, "the US administration will support the plan for a military operation in Rafah put forward earlier," which provides for dividing the city into numbered sectors that will be mopped up one by one

Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

The movement called upon the international community to "break free from Washington’s influence and support the struggle of the Palestinian people"

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

According to the RuStore press service, over the past six months the number of applications from Chinese developers has grown fivefold

Putin sees increasing life expectancy as key policy goal for Russia

The Russian leader stressed that "it’s crucial to continue paying great attention to the prevention and treatment of diseases, particularly through the most advanced and cutting-edge methods"

Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

The Lebanese Shiite organization "would not accept that the Israelis transgress the rules of engagement that are currently set in the south" of Lebanon

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

Ceasefire necessary for implementation of UN humanitarian resolution on Gaza — UN envoy

"The Israeli forces carry out strikes at humanitarian forces, block their access, slow down the cargo clearance," Vasily Nebenzya said