Russian military police proved successful in Syria mission: Top brass

Lieutenant General Vladimir Ivanovsky made the remarks on Tuesday after a ceremony at Hmeimim Air Base in Syria’s Latakia Province, during which Russian military police officers received awards before returning home.

“According to the assessments of the leadership of the armed forces, local population, observers, the military police, first of all, have established themselves as a successful structure in conditions of these special objectives of humanitarian mission and peacekeeping operations,” he said.

Ivanovsky also noted that the Russian military police have earned a good reputation among Syria’s civilian population and gained considerable experience.

In addition to Hmeimim, several Russian military servicemen received awards on Tuesday at an observation point in the Idlib Province de-escalation zone and a demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights. Military policemen currently constitute the bulk of Russian troops in Syria.

They protect Russian bases in Syria, assist the Damascus government in maintaining order across the liberated regions, monitor a country-wide ceasefire, escort humanitarian aid convoys and protect humanitarian corridors that allow civilians to leave militant-held areas.

Russian jets have been targeting positions held by terror outfits inside Syria at the Damascus government’s request since September 2015. The airstrikes have helped Syrian forces advance against the militants, who have been wreaking havoc in the Arab country since 2011.

Recently, Moscow bolstered Syria’s air defense capabilities by deploying S-300 missile defense systems to the country.

KD