A Russian soldier manning an AGS-30 and a “Pecheneg” machine gun on a GAZ Tigr in Syria. (Image via RamiroWTF YouTube)
The Guardian/AFP: Fifteen Russian security staff killed in Syria explosion
The incident at a weapons depot follows the reported deaths of scores of Russian mercenaries in a US-led coalition attack last week
Fifteen Russians employed in Syria by a private security company have been killed after an explosion rocked an arms depot at their base in the country, according to a monitoring group.
The incident happened at the company’s weapons storage facility at Tabiya Jazira in the northeastern province of Deir Ezzor, said the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Observatory directory Rami Abdel Rahman said the company in question was in charge of “protecting the oil and gas fields controlled by the Syrian regime”.
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Update #1: Fifteen Russian contractors killed in explosion at base in Syria, as violence escalates (The Telegraph)
Update #2: 15 People from a Russian Military Group were Killed in an Explosion in Syria (Novinite)
Update #3: Why Russia is hiring mercenaries to fight in Syria (Ben Brimelow, We Are The Mighty/Business Insider)
WNU Editor: Definitely not a good week for Russian contractors in eastern Syria.