Russia doubled the number of its soldiers in Syria

The Russian military group in Syria has been increased to four thousand people, Reuters reported, citing sources in the US special services and independent experts.

In late September, when Russia launched the operation in Syria, the agency recalls, about two thousand Russian servicemen were deployed in this country.

Three sources in the US intelligence agencies also reported that the Russian contingent in Syria suffered combat losses. This, in particular, is about the death of military personnel, said the agency interlocutors, adding that the exact number of casualties is unknown to them.

The Russian Defense Ministry does not officially name the number of servicemen involved in operations in Syria. The defense department only emphasizes that the Russian military does not participate in ground operations.

Officially confirmed the only case the death of the Russian militaryinvolved in operations in Syria. According to the Ministry of Defense, contract soldier Vadim Kostenko committed suicide, members of the family of a serviceman, in turn, said they did not believe in the version of suicide.

Air Force of Russia conduct operation in Syria with 30 September. The Russian Defense Ministry says that Russian planes strike at the positions of terrorists, primarily the militants of the Islamic State.

The rebels and a number of Western politicians believe that the Russian Air Force is bombing the positions of opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and not just terrorists.