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Conflict in Syria

Russian soldier wounded in Syria in May dies — Defense Ministry

The serviceman got his fatal wound in the governorate of Aleppo

© Sergey Bobylev/TASS, file

MOSCOW, June 16. /TASS/. A Russian soldier who was wounded in Syria last month has died, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported Thursday.

"On June 7, contract serviceman junior sergeant Mikhail Shirokopoyas died in the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital in Moscow from wounds received during shelling of a vehicle convoy of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria," the ministry said.

The serviceman got his fatal wound in the first half of May 2016 in the governorate of Aleppo.

Shirokopoyas was buried with honors in his motherland in the Amur Region. He was recommended for an Order of Courage posthumously.

The ceasefire regime took effect in Syria on February 27. Shortly before, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution supporting a cessation of hostilities. The document drafted by Russia and the United States was backed by all 15 Security Council member states.

The ceasefire regime does not cover the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations as well as other groups ruled terrorist by the Security Council.

Russia takes an active part in the Syrian settlement effort. It helps Syria's authorities fight terrorists and has conducted mine clearing work in the ancient city of Palmyra.

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