"We are not ruling out that terrorists in Palmyra and other cities are planning provocations, including the destruction of mosques, to later circulate faked photo and video materials accusing the Russian aircraft in committed atrocities on the Syrian territory," ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the militants are intending to place the weaponry near mosques, as they know that the Russian aviation would never attack them.
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) October 6, 2015
"Having realized the high effectiveness of uncovering camouflaged weapons and equipment depots by our reconnaissance, as well as the real threat of imminent destruction, the terrorists are making efforts to move the weapons to residential areas of cities," the ministry said in a statement on its website.