Russian soldier killed in mine explosion in northern Syria: monitors

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — One Russian soldier died and three others were injured on Wednesday after their military vehicle hit a roadside bomb in northwestern Hasaka province in northern Syria, two monitors have reported.

The explosion took place near al-Asadiyah village in Turkish-occupied territory, south of Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) town, which was invaded by Turkey in October 2019, according to the Rojava Information Center (RIC), a local monitor in northeast Syria. As part of a deal with Ankara, Russian troops have been patrolling some of these areas since late 2019.
 
“It is so far unclear what the soldiers were doing this far inside Turkish-occupied territory,” the RIC added. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also reported the explosion, saying it happened after the Russian military vehicle passed the village, which is located at a crossroads between areas ruled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Turkish-backed proxies, and the Syrian regime.

The deceased succumbed to his injuries in al-Darbasiyah (Dirbesiye) in Hasaka, it added.

“SOHR activists have documented the hovering of Russian helicopters in the areas to transfer the remaining three wounded soldiers to hospitals,” said the UK-based group.

The Russian defense ministry later confirmed the explosion, saying their vehicle hit “an unidentified explosive device.”

“As a result of the explosion, one Russian serviceman died from his injuries. Three Russian servicemen who followed him in the car were taken to a hospital, where the necessary medical assistance was provided," it said.
 
Russia – the main backer of President Bashar al-Assad - has acted as guarantor of the indirect ceasefire between Turkey and the SDF since 2019. The US has also played a similar role. Both forces have conducted joint patrols with Turkish forces on the border since the Turkish invasion. 

Updated at 12:28am, 10 June