Moscow, AFP Wednesday, 18 November 2015A map shown by the Russian military on state television appears to show that some Russian artillery contingents could be operating on the ground in central Syria’s Homs region.
Russia has servicemen at bases in government-held Syria helping to conduct an air campaign in support of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad but denies it has deployed ground troops.
The detailed map shown in footage during a defence ministry briefing with President Vladimir Putin Tuesday showed acronyms for Russian contingents near areas where the regime is conducting an offensive against jihadists.
The diagram, shown to Putin on a large screen and filmed by state television, apparently showed that several 152mm-calibre Msta (2A65) howitzers of the 120th artillery brigade are deployed close to the town of Sadad, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) south of Homs.
A Syrian military source told AFP only that “there are Russian counselors in Sadad advising the Syrian army on the artillery.”
The 120th artillery brigade is based in Russia’s Kemerovo region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday reiterated Moscow’s consistent denial that it has deployed any ground troops in Syria.
“There is a technical contingent linked to ensure the operation of the Russian air force,” Peskov said.
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