MOSCOW, Russia. – The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the death of military adviser Nikolai Afanasov, following a mortar attack by radical groups against a citadel of the Syrian armed forces in Hama province.

The officer was in charge of training the armed forces of the Levantine country in their fight against terrorist formations, and as several international media stand out, he will be decorated posthumously for his work.

In September 2015, Damascus requested Moscow air support to fight an invasion of extremist groups financed and equipped from abroad.

Russia has now the Jmeimim air base in the Syrian province of Latakia and a naval base in Tartus Port, while they deployed military police units to guarantee protection for these facilities.