Russian military police battalion deployed in Aleppo - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) - A military police battalion, which will perform tasks in Syria, has arrived in Aleppo, Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Currently, the battalion has made a march from the Hmeimim airbase to the city of Aleppo to perform tasks as part of the Russian center for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic," the ministry said in a press release sent to Interfax-AVN on Friday.
It was noted that military policemen will ensure security of the center's troops, experts of the International Mine Action Center, as well as personnel of mobile hospitals and humanitarian convoys arriving in Aleppo as part of territorial divisions of the Russian center for reconciliation of opposing sides.
"Servicemen of the battalion will also provide assistance in law enforcement to the Aleppo city government," the press release said.
The press release said that "the military police battalion is staffed only by contract servicemen."
Earlier on Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that "a military police battalion was deployed here since Thursday evening to maintain order in the liberated territories [of Aleppo]."
On December 22, Russian Defense Ministry's military police battalion was deployed in the Hmeimim airbase by aircraft of the Military Transport Aviation "following additional training at one of training ranges," the press release said.