MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry on Thursday denied the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s accusation of making on June 8 and 9 airstrikes on civilian targets in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
"Russia’s Aerospace Forces have not made any strikes on the city of Aleppo," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday.
"I will recall that none of earlier posed accusations against Russia’s Aerospace Forces has been confirmed by any evidence. Moreover, they have all been refuted by Russia’s Defense Ministry with the use of data of objective control and quickly forgotten by our critics," Konashenkov said.
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At the same time, he said, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria has registered, over the past few days, massive artillery shelling of Aleppo’s residential neighborhoods by militants of terrorist groups that without hindrance cross the Syrian-Turkish border.
"It is strange that these events remain without proper attention of the Turkish Foreign Ministry," Konashenkov said.
Earlier, the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Russia of making airstrikes on mosques, hospitals, schools and other civilian targets in Syria.
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.
Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.
On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.
During Russia’s operation against the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra that lasted nearly six months, Syrian forces recaptured nearly 400 inhabited localities with support from Russia’s aircraft. Serious problems were created for illegal oil trade, which is the key source of income for terrorists; the main routes of supply of arms and ammunition to militants were blocked.