Russian Jets Unaffected by EU Fuel Sanctions Against Syria - MoD

EU sanctions on fuel supplies to Syria do not affect the Russian air group based at the Hmeymim airbase as its combat operations in the war-torn country are part of Russia's contribution to the fight against terrorism, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Reuters claimed earlier on Tuesday that at least two Russian-flagged tankers had "smuggled" jet fuel to Syria violating EU restrictive measures against Bashar Assad's government.

"The existing intrigues, restrictions and 'sanctions' within the European Union against fuel supplies to Syria, to put it mildly, cannot affect the Russian air group at all," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement stressing that Russia is not part of the EU and cannot be forced to follow its policies.

Konashenkov added that the Russian combat planes do not and will not have any shortages of jet fuel, especially when it comes to the fight against international terrorism.