MOSCOW, January 14 /TASS/. Russian puppy Dobrynya whom Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has sent to his French counterparts to replace the fallen police dog Diesel is adapting to his new home, a source at the Russian Interior Ministry press centre told TASS on Thursday.

Dobrynya is a gift that Russian policemen gave to their French colleagues as a sign of solidarity and support after the death of the legendary Belgian Malinois Diesel that had been killed in a police terror raid in November last year.

Dobryna is undergoing training at the French National Police Centre for Preparing Cynological Units.

"After special training, Dobrynya will be handed over to the Raid police unit for further service. It is supposed to replace Belgian Malinois Diesel that was killed by terrorists when French special forces raided an apartment building in the Saint-Denis neighborhood in Paris in November last year," the Russian Interior Ministry press centre said.

Apart from regular police functions, the RAID unit protects the first persons of the French state and French ambassadors in several foreign countries. RAID policemen also accompany "problem" international flights. The RAID police groups can quickly re-deploy to any part of France if their presence is required.

According to the French policemen, Dobrynya has felt well ever since it arrived in France. "It has no problem in getting along with its female friend - the four-year-old Belgian shepherd dog Ali. The puppy likes to play. He is friendly and responsive. At the same time, he is strong and has a very good appetite," the Russian Interior Ministry said with reference to the French colleagues.

The heroic police dog named Diesel was seven years old when it died. It had outstanding talents in fighting terrorists and searching for explosives. Diesel had saved many human lives and had received the Dickin Medal, Britain’s highest military award to honour the work of police animals.