MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax) - The Russian military has refuted Western media reports that Russia is increasing its military presence in Syria.
"The Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation is taking measures to downsize the group of Russian forces in the Syrian Arab Republic in line with the instruction of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
Reports by some Western media outlets that Russia is allegedly boosting its military presence in Syria "are nothing more than a primitive propaganda hoax," he said.