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Drone gunned down over Turkey does not belong to Russia — General Staff

Deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff made this comment regarding Internet reports alleging that the Turkish partners had shot down a Russian drone flying over Turkey

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. A drone allegedly gunned down over Turkey has nothing to do with Russia, since all Russian drones used in the anti-Islamic State operation in Syria are either on combat mission or are staying at the airbase, deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff Andrey Kartapolov said on Friday.

At a briefing for military attaches and journalists, Kartapolov commented on Internet reports alleging that the Turkish partners had shot down a Russian drone flying over Turkey.

"I am telling you with full authority that our unmanned aerial vehicles are either performing combat missions in the assigned areas or are staying at the air base," he said, adding he had specified this information before the briefing.

"You can only guess or find out whom the unmanned aerial vehicle belonged to," Kartapolov said.

Turkey’s General Staff said earlier on Friday that the Turkish air forces had gunned down an unidentified drone that had trespassed the country’s air space. The Russian defence ministry said all Russian warplanes employed in Syria had returned to the airbase and drone were operating a routine regime.