The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a case after the death in Syria of a Major General of the Russian Armed Forces in the line of duty, as well as in connection with the injury of two soldiers. The press service of the department reported.

As the chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, noted, in accordance with previously reached agreements with the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic, Russian investigators thoroughly and with the assistance of the competent authorities of the SAR are investigating every crime against the Russian military.

“The crime, as a result of which a general of the Russian army was killed and two more servicemen were wounded, will not be an exception: the investigators of the UK, who are now serving in Syria, will establish all the details of the criminal encroachment as part of a criminal investigation. It is not only an official duty, but also a matter of honor to identify those responsible for the death and injury of our servicemen, ”the message says.

Bastrykin also expressed condolences to the relatives of the Russian senior military adviser with the rank of major general and addressed words of support to the families and friends of the two injured servicemen. He stressed that the courage of the Russian officers and his loyalty to the oath are manifestations of patriotism, fortitude, fearlessness in the face of international terrorism, indifference to the pain of the civilian population affected by it.

“In a challenging environment with constant risk to life, despite obvious difficulties and hidden threats, he, as a true Russian officer, remained at his post in the name of peace, in order to provide vital support to those in need, as well as to fulfill the tasks of confrontation terrorists, ”said the chairman of the Investigative Committee.

On the evening of August 18, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that an improvised explosive device detonated on the side of the road 15 km from the city of Deir ez-Zor. At that moment, a convoy of Russian military was driving there, returning after a humanitarian action.

“As a result of the explosion, three Russian servicemen were injured. During the evacuation and the provision of medical assistance, a Russian senior military adviser with the rank of major general died from the received serious wounds, ”the message said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented the deceased officer to the state award posthumously, and the department will provide the family of the serviceman with all the necessary assistance and support.

We add that this is the first death of a high-ranking Russian officer during the fighting in Syria since 2017. Then Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Asapov died in the SAR.

Senior of the group of Russian military advisers, Lieutenant General Asapov came under mortar fire from terrorists of the "Islamic State" *, while at the command post of the troops of the Syrian Arab Republic, assisting the Syrian commanders in managing the operation to liberate Deir ez-Zor.

"The results of the preliminary investigation into the death of General Asapov in Deir ez-Zor indicate a leak of information about his whereabouts to the side that fired," said a RIA Novosti source in the Syrian security agencies.

Asapov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. He was buried with military honors at the Federal War Memorial Cemetery near Mytishchi.

In 2018, his name was given to the secondary school №2 of Ussuriysk. Asapov from February 2013 to January 2014 held the post of deputy commander of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, based in this city of Primorsky Krai.

“I knew Valery Asapov personally. He was and remains a friend to me, whom I should look up to. Bear proudly the name assigned to your school and glorify it with new victories and achievements, ”said the head of the Ussuriysk city district administration Yevgeny Korzh.

In September 2018, a monument was erected to Asapov on the territory of the headquarters of the 5th Red Banner Combined Arms Army in Ussuriisk.

* "Islamic State" (IS) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.