MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax-AVN) - Nearly 70,000 Russian Armed Forces personnel participated in the operation in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"More than 68,000 servicemen, including 460 generals, gained combat experience [in Syria]," it said.
All commanders of Russia's military districts, combined-arms armies, air force and air defense armies, divisions, and also 96% of commanders of combined-arms brigades and regiments took part in the operation in Syria, the ministry said.
"Eighty-seven percent of tactical aviation crews, 91% of army air force crews, 97% of military-transport aviation crews, and 60% of long-distance strategic aviation crews received combat experience [in Syria]," the ministry said.
Terrorists controlled 92% of Syria's territory in 2015, when Russia launched its military operation in Syria, it said.
"Today 96.5% of Syria's territory is under the control of [Syrian] government forces and militia units," the ministry said.
Russia started its military operation in Syria on September 30, 2015. Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces back ground operations of Syrian government forces. In Syria Russia has an airbase at the Hmeimim airfield and a naval base in Tartus. A significant reduction of Russia's group of forces in Syria was announced in December 2017.