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Vadim Kostenko: Russian soldier kills himself during deployment in Syria Vadim Kostenko: Russian soldier kills himself during deployment in Syria
(about 20 hours later)
A Russian soldier has killed himself while on deployment in Syria, the first known death of a Russian serviceman in Syria since Moscow began its airstrikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad last month.A Russian soldier has killed himself while on deployment in Syria, the first known death of a Russian serviceman in Syria since Moscow began its airstrikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad last month.
The relatives of Vadim Kostenko, a 19-year-old contractor in the Russian army, said that officers from a military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region had visited them with news that Kostenko had died on 24 October, activists from the open source investigative organisation Conflict Intelligence Team reported.The relatives of Vadim Kostenko, a 19-year-old contractor in the Russian army, said that officers from a military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region had visited them with news that Kostenko had died on 24 October, activists from the open source investigative organisation Conflict Intelligence Team reported.
Kostenko’s cousin and a former colleague confirmed the report to Russian business newspaper RBK, adding that Kostenko’s body hadn’t been delivered home to his family. Kostenko will “soon” be buried in his home region of Grechanaya Balka, CIT reported.Kostenko’s cousin and a former colleague confirmed the report to Russian business newspaper RBK, adding that Kostenko’s body hadn’t been delivered home to his family. Kostenko will “soon” be buried in his home region of Grechanaya Balka, CIT reported.
The press service at Russia’s Ministry of Defence has not commented on Kostenko’s death so far, but Dmitry Peskov, the press spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said this morning that the question over the soldier’s death had been forwarded to the foreign ministry.The press service at Russia’s Ministry of Defence has not commented on Kostenko’s death so far, but Dmitry Peskov, the press spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said this morning that the question over the soldier’s death had been forwarded to the foreign ministry.
Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria
The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria
Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes
AP
Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps
Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed
A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit
A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria
Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria
“I’d prefer to leave this subject with my colleagues at the Foreign Ministry,” Mr Peskov told journalists.  “I’d prefer to leave this subject with my colleagues at the Foreign Ministry,” Mr Peskov told journalists.  
Kostenko had signed up to become a contract soldier with the 906th Close Air Support Regiment in June this year after finishing his draft in the army, CIT reported. However, it is not thought that Kostenko himself was a pilot. Kostenko had signed up to become a contract soldier with the 906th Close Air Support Regiment in June this year after finishing his draft in the army, CIT reported. However, it is not thought that Kostenko himself was a pilot. 
While relatives await confirmation on the nature of his death, a friend of Kostenko's told activists from CIT that officers from the military had changed their version of Kostenko's death more than once when talking to his relatives.While relatives await confirmation on the nature of his death, a friend of Kostenko's told activists from CIT that officers from the military had changed their version of Kostenko's death more than once when talking to his relatives.
Friends have been posting condolences on Kostenko’s page on Russian social networking site VKontakte, with one friend writing, “Brother, we’ll never forget you, we’ll remember, love and mourn for you.”Friends have been posting condolences on Kostenko’s page on Russian social networking site VKontakte, with one friend writing, “Brother, we’ll never forget you, we’ll remember, love and mourn for you.”
A report from Reuters on 20 October quoted a senior Syrian pro-government source claiming that three Russians had been killed alongside their Syrian counterparts in Latakia. However Russia’s foreign ministry denied the claim, slamming the report as unproven and “part of an information war”.A report from Reuters on 20 October quoted a senior Syrian pro-government source claiming that three Russians had been killed alongside their Syrian counterparts in Latakia. However Russia’s foreign ministry denied the claim, slamming the report as unproven and “part of an information war”.