MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. More than 150 Russian sappers have arrived in Syria to take part in a mine clearance effort in Palmyra, the press service of Russia’s Defense Ministry said.
"Another group of a joint detachment of the International Demining Center of the Russian Armed Forces has arrived in Syria to provide assistance in the humanitarian mine clearance in the ancient city of Palmyra," the press service said.
The personnel and equipment have been redeployed from the Moscow region to the Hmeymim air base by Russia’s military transport aviation and the group later marched to Palmyra.
"First of all, specialists of the demining center clear of mines the roads to the city’s social infrastructure facilities, hospitals, water and power supply facilities, and also demine the historic part of the ancient Palmyra," it said.
For the first time, the advanced means of search and detection of explosives, and also protective equipment of sappers will be used in the operation.
Some 17 pieces of special equipment have been sent to Palmyra, the ministry said. Besides the sappers, the group also consists of canine teams.
The city was liberated from the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) on March 2 and on March 10 the General Staff reported that the first detachment of 200 Russian sappers arrived in Palmyra.