Syria toll claim denied

MOSCOW: Russia’s Defence Ministry yesterday denied a Reuters report about a rise in the losses suffered by Russia in its military campaign in Syria, calling it “a lie from beginning to end”, Russian news agencies reported.

“This is not the first time that Reuters is attempting to discredit by any means Russia’s operation aiming to destroy Islamic State terrorists and return peace to Syria,” the agencies cited Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

The agency put the actual death toll among Russian soldiers and private contractors at 40 so far this year, at least. Reuters