MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. The first sis Sukhoi-24 bombers have already been relocated from the Hmeymim base in Syria to Russia and more aircraft will be back home soon, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told the media on Thursday.

"The first group of six Sukhoi-24 has been relocated from the Hmeymim base to Russia. The withdrawal of other aircraft and also flight and technical personnel is due in the near future," he said.

Four Russian Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes have been redeployed to Hmeymim air base in Syria in a planned rotation procedure.

The spokesman thus commented on the information reported by FoxNews TV Channel that Russia was allegedly stepping up its military presence in Syria.

"Four S-25 attack planes fitted out with modern navigation systems and the sighting complex that flew from Russia, indeed, joined the Russian air task force at the Hmeymim air base in recent days," the spokesman said. "Attempts by some western media to neglect some facts only to focus on others to make a fuss about an alleged ‘buildup of Russian presence in Syria’ are nothing but a primitive propaganda canard," Konashenkov said.

He also recalled that the Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier-led task force has been on its way back to its Severomorsk base since January 6. The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier has more than 40 aircraft on board.