The Russian military operation against terrorists in Syria was necessary. It allowed preserving the Syrian statehood, defeating the Islamic state terrorist group (ISIS, banned in Russia), and preventing the spread of terrorism to other countries, according to an article by Russian Defense Minister, General of the army Sergei Shoigu, published on the fifth anniversary of Russia's operation in Syria in Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
The Russian military operation against terrorists in Syria was necessary. It allowed preserving the Syrian statehood, defeating the Islamic state terrorist group (ISIS, banned in Russia), and preventing the spread of terrorism to other countries, according to an article by Russian Defense Minister, General of the army Sergei Shoigu, published on the fifth anniversary of Russia's operation in Syria in Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
"Sometimes in the ongoing discussions, the question arises: did Russia do the right thing by taking on this difficult task? But every time we can prove that the mission was necessary in Syria, and the decision to launch a military operation was correct, if not the only possible one," Shoigu said.
The active phase of the Russian operation lasted 804 days, from September 30, 2015 to December 11, 2017. By its beginning, the terrorists controlled more than 70% of the territory of Syria, attacked in all directions and everywhere pressed government troops. "At some point, it became clear that this force directly threatens not the region, but the whole world. Including Russia. This was a structure that planned to impose its own rules on all of humanity in the future," Shoigu emphasizes.
"With the support of Russian aviation, the Syrian armed forces liberated 1,024 localities from terrorists, as a result of which 88% of the country's territory came under the control of government troops and people's militia units," the Minister said.
Shoigu explained that Russia managed to prevent the collapse of the Syrian state, stop the civil war, defeat the ISIS, and also cause serious damage to the entire international terrorist underground, disrupting its channels of feeding resources and finances.
In addition, more than 3 thousand Russian citizens who left to fight in the ranks of terrorist organizations and planned to engage in terrorist activities on their return were prevented from entering the territory of Russia. From a geopolitical point of view, with its military presence in the region, Russia was able to maintain the balance of power in the Middle East and act as a key guarantor of regional security.
133 thousand terrorists were killed
More than 130 thousand terrorists have been killed since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Syria.
"As a result of air strikes and cruise missiles, 133,542 terrorist targets were destroyed, including 400 plants for illegal oil refining and 4,100 fuel tankers. 865 gang leaders and more than 133 thousand militants were eliminated, including 4.5 thousand militants from the Russian Federation and CIS countries," Shoigu writes.
Performing tasks to combat terrorism in Syria, the Russian air force has made more than 44 thousand sorties since the beginning of the operation. По словам министра, президент России Владимир Путин ставил перед Минобороны задачу ликвидировать террористические группировки в Сирии, а также не дать боевикам - выходцам из России, вернуться назад. Необходимо было защитить страну от террористических угроз "на дальних подступах".
"These were ideologically motivated, militarily well-trained armed groups, whose participants opposed themselves to the rest of the world. In fact, we can say that this was the first full - fledged terrorist army - well-organized and cohesive, trained, and well-armed," the Minister stressed.
During the active phase of the operation, which lasted from September 30, 2015 to December 11, 2017, key Syrian cities such as Palmyra, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor were liberated. The Syrian government has regained control of 88% of the country's territory. To date, the Syrian government controls 1,435 localities.
ISIS has ceased to exist in Syria
The terrorist organization "Islamic state" in Syria was completely defeated as a result of the Russian operation, not a single terrorist entered the Russian Federation, the article says.
"The task set by the Supreme commander-in-chief five years ago was fully completed. The international terrorist organization "Islamic state" in Syria has ceased to exist, not a single terrorist has entered Russia," the Minister writes.
According to Shoigu, today ISIS is "finally defeated".
"Moreover, we can say with all confidence that the entire international terrorist underground has suffered significant damage, the financial support of organizations and the system of their resource support have been disrupted," the head of the military department emphasizes.
He notes that another key aspect is that the effective actions of the Russian armed forces in Syria "put a reliable barrier to the further expansion of the activities of terrorist groups, especially in neighboring territories."
Shoigu emphasizes that the operation in Syria demonstrated the fundamentally increased capabilities of the Russian Armed forces, the ability to successfully defend national interests anywhere in the world, as well as the readiness to provide military assistance to its allies and partners, strengthened Russia's authority, strengthened its international influence, and neutralized attempts by geopolitical competitors to isolate the Russian Federation politically and diplomatically.
Remember the heroes
Russia will always remember the great feat of the military who died in Syria, defending their country, Shoigu says in the article .
In an article written for the fifth anniversary of Russia's operation in Syria, the head of the military department recalled the feat of the dead soldiers.
Shoigu noted that "Russia in its history has repeatedly come to the aid of peoples and countries that find themselves face to face with military danger."
"In Syria, the share of our military fell to the battle with a brutal enemy - ruthless, insidious, living and fighting under barbaric laws," the article says.
Shoigu notes that the memory of the soldiers who performed their military duty in Syria to the end will live forever. "They died defending Russia. And we will always remember their great feat," the Minister said.
He told about some details of the death of Russian servicemen.
Oleg Peshkov
Russian military pilot Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov was under devastating fire twice - first when his Su-24 was attacked by a Turkish fighter, and then when the crew had to eject from the plane engulfed in flames.
According to the Minister, only a few days later the body of Lieutenant Colonel Peshkov, riddled with bullets, was snatched from the hands of terrorists. "The BTA (military transport aviation) plane carrying the coffin with the remains of the pilot was accompanied by a flight of fighters on the approach to the Chkalovsky airfield, according to the tradition of military pilots: these were the last honors to the officer who died in battle, but remained undefeated," the Minister writes.
By decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia.
Alexander Prokhorenko
Senior Lieutenant Alexander Prokhorenko, during the operation against the Islamists in the Palmyra area, was responsible for directing air strikes from the ground and correcting aviation fire. "Not far from the village of Tadmor, he was blocked by a gang of terrorists, the ring of encirclement was shrinking. And then Alexander, issuing the last coordinates on the air, called fire on himself," the Minister said.
According to him, "dozens of armed thugs"were killed along with him." "For courage and bravery, for the highest sacrifice in the performance of military duty, senior Lieutenant Alexander Prokhorenko was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia," Shoigu recalled.
Roman Filipov
The Deputy commander of the aviation squadron, Major Roman Filipov, flew more than eight dozen combat missions in Syria. His Su-25 covered the positions of terrorists, hitting their firing points, smashing open warehouses with weapons and ammunition. But that flight was almost peaceful: it was necessary to fly around the Idlib de-escalation zone and ensure that the ceasefire was monitored from the air.
"The shot from the MANPADS fell on the car of the leader, who was Roman. "Go to the clouds!" - he managed to command his wingman, he himself fought to the last for the life of his combat vehicle. And only when he realized that it would not be possible to save it, he decided to eject," the head of the Defense Ministry said.
The Minister recalls that the bandits tracked the dome of his parachute, took the landing place in the ring, but the Russian pilot did not think to give up. Seeing the approaching militants, he opened fire on them with his weapon, and "then the terrorists brought down a hail of lead on the surrounded pilot." "Being seriously wounded, having let the bandits get closer, Roman pressed a hand grenade to himself and pulled out the ring. The last words of the officer were "This is for our guys!", - writes Shoigu.
By presidential decree, Major Roman Filipov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia.
"He laid down his head far from his native land, but, fulfilling his duty, he remained forever faithful to the oath he once took-the military oath," the Minister stressed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials TASS