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.