The Syrian army has liberated 16 districts in east Aleppo populated by 90,000 residents during a three-day operation, the Russian General Staff said.
"Over the past three days, Syrian army units supported by militia have managed to clear 16 quarters in the northern part of eastern Aleppo of militants," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said, adding that 1,007 settlements had joined the Syrian ceasefire, and that over 100,000 residents returned there.
Over 18,000 civilians left terrorist-controlled areas of Aleppo as a result of the Syrian army's successful operation, the Russian military added.
"As a result of the the Syrian army's successful advance, the militants' system of battle positions has been broken. More than 18 thousand civilians were able to leave areas controlled by terrorists of Aleppo," Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, said.
"The Russian Aerospace Forces have stopped flights around Aleppo since October 18, for a total of 44 days. The Russian combat jets are flying at least at the 10-km radius around the city."
He said that terrorists destroy schools, hospitals and mosques in Aleppo to accuse Syrian aviation and artillery of the attacks.
"Social infrastructure [in Aleppo] is completely destroyed. According to eyewitnesses' evidence, terrorists mine and blow up schools, hospitals and mosques. The footages of destroyed buildings are being given to Western human rights watchdogs under the guise of the results of strikes by Syrian aviation and artillery," Rudskoy said.
Moreover, Russia has sent a demining squad to Aleppo. According to Rudskoy, over 200 Russian servicemen and 47 pieces of combat and special equipment will be deployed for mine clearing in Aleppo.
Russian Defense Ministry's experts will check the sites where mustard gas is possibly being produced, Rudskoy said.
