Restless residue

On the territory of Syria there are thousands of militants - immigrants from Russia and the CIS countries. This was stated by President Vladimir Paths to meet with military personnel - participants in the military marine campaign to the shores of Syria, Interfax reports .

"Unfortunately, a huge number of militants - immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Russia itself have accumulated on the territory of Syria. According to our preliminary data, the score goes on thousands: according to the GRU of the General Staff and other special services, for example, the FSB, this is up to four thousand from Russia and five thousand from the republics of the CIS," Putin said. - We understand what a huge danger lurks in this nursery of terrorism in Syria precisely for us, for Russia. "

Putin also said that the Russian ship group was sent to the shores of Syria on his personal initiative. As the president noted, the campaign took place in conditions of opposition to efforts in the fight against international terrorism, and not the help of "some of our so -called partners."

In October 2015, two weeks after the start of the Russian operation, Putin noted that from 5 to 7 thousand immigrants from Russia and the CIS countries are fighting for IG . “Of course, we cannot allow them to use experience gained in Syria today at home,” the president said, calling on to carefully monitor the situation of the external borders of the CIS. For this, according to him, it is necessary to "ensure the effective activities of the anti -terrorist center, continue to coordinate the work of special services, and carry out constant exchange of information."

On December 11, 2015, Putin ordered the Russian military to act extremely harshly , destroying any goals that threaten the Armed Forces in Syria. "I order to act extremely harshly. Any goals that threaten the Russian group or our ground infrastructure are subject to immediate destruction," the president said at an expanded meeting of the College of the Ministry of Defense.

At the same time, the president noted that the terrorists in Syria are a direct threat to Russia, and Moscow’s actions are dictated not by abstract interests, but by the intention to protect the country. Representatives of various ethnic groups from the North Caucasus, as well as from other regions, "not only take an active and open part in the hostilities, but also flaunt their participation in punitive actions," Putin said.

"All this is a direct threat to Russia and our military personnel in Syria primarily protect their country. Our actions are not dictated by any incomprehensible, abstract geopolitical interests, the desire to practice and test new weapons systems. The main thing is not in this, the main thing is to prevent the threat to the Russian Federation itself," the president noted.