Most of the dead were not regular Russian soldiers but Russian civilians working as private military contractors under the orders of Russian commanders. Three other members of his unit, all private military contractors, were killed the same day, according to relatives, friends and cemetery officials. Four regular Russian servicemen were killed in the same area on February 16, Russian state media cited a defense ministry statement as saying. A fifth regular serviceman, Artyom Gorbunov, was killed near Palmyra on March 2, state media quoted the ministry as saying. They were contractors Konstantin Zadorozhny, Ivan Slyshkin, Vasily Yurlin, Alexander Sagaydak, Alexander Zangiyev, and Alexander Tychinin, and regular Russian soldiers Igor Vorona, and Sergei Travin.

Source: Egypt Independent March 22, 2017 09:56 UTC