Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said Monday that Russian military aircraft and helicopters managed to carry out up to 100 sorties per day from the Hmeymim air base in Syria due to efficient functioning of the engineering services.
“Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russian Helicopters, Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) and other organizations of the military industrial complex contributed to the establishment of the engineering and technical platform designed to ensure functionality of aircraft at the Hmyimim air base. A well-coordinated work of our professionals provided a high level of intensity of the military activity that reached up to 100 sorties per day,” Borisov told reporters.
Russia launched a military operation against terrorist groups in Syria in September 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. On December 11, 2017, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of a significant portion of Russian troops from the country, a week after his announcement that the Daesh* terrorist group was defeated in Syria. However, Russian servicemen have remained at Russia’s naval facility in the city of Tartus and Hmeymim air base in order to continue helping maintain security in the country.