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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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