The Russian Defence Ministry announced yesterday that it pulled out three strike helicopters from the Khmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia.
According to a ministry statement, three Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters left the airbase on board a heavy military transport plane, along with the team of engineers and technicians and also some equipment.
The withdrawal of helicopters comes within the framework of the decision announced earlier to reduce the number of Russian troops in Syria, the ministry added in its statement.
Russia had announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of 160 soldiers from the troops stationed in Khmeimim airbase on board a Russian IL-76 heavy military transport plane and three Mi-35 helicopters.
On 14 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence minister, Sergei Shoygu, to withdraw the bulk of Russian troops from Syria.