MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - Moscow has reported a surge in the number of shelling incidents and explosions near the Russian Embassy in Damascus. A shell recently landed on the premises of the Embassy's Consular Department. No Russian citizens were hurt.
"A shell hit the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy in Damascus and another two shells blew up nearby, causing material damage. Luckily, there have been no casualties amongst Russian citizens," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said at a press briefing in Moscow on Thursday.
A few more shells rained down into downtown Damascus in the recent attack and "exploded near the Russian diplomatic mission in the center of the Syrian capital city. Fortunately, casualties amongst Russian citizens were avoided again," he said.
In the words of Lukashevich, the attack killed four and wounded about 20 Syrians.