MOSCOW (Sputnik) — An advanced demining unit of the Russian Mine Action Center has been deployed to Syria's Hmeymim airbase to conduct mine-clearing operations in the eastern part of Aleppo, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"The leading demining unit of the Russian Armed Forces International Mine Action Center has come to the Hmeymim airbase," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that sappers were to start demining process in the liberated districts of the eastern Aleppo soon. The unit also includes a special unit with mine detection dogs.
The Russian combat engineers cleared Palmyra of mines after the historic Syrian city had been liberated in late March.
Syrian government forces have been fighting against extremist groups in eastern Aleppo for several months. In November, government troops liberated almost half of the area after a large-scale offensive.