Ulyanovsk region bids last farewells to military pilot who perished in Syria
ULYANOVSK. July 12 (Interfax) - A farewell ceremony is under way with military pilot Ryafagat Khabibulin, who was killed when performing a combat task in Syria on July 8, in the Staraya Kulatka district of the Ulyanovsk region on Tuesday.
The ceremony is being held in the Vyazovy Gai village, which is native for Khabibulin, the regional government's press service told Interfax.
"Over 500 people, including fellow countrymen and colleagues, gathered here. Russian Air Force Commander Andrei Yudin arrived to attend the ceremony," he said.
Khabibulin and his fellow pilot from Pskov Yevgeny Dolgin were killed in the Syrian province of Homs on July 8, their helicopter Mil Mi-25 had been downed from the ground by terrorists.
On this day, the militants from ISIL outlawed in Russia have attacked the Syrian positions east of Palmyra and attempted to capture the high grounds.
At this time, the Russian pilots have tested a helicopter in the flight. The crew received a request from the Syrian command of the armed group to strike attacking militants. Commander of the crew Khabibulin decided to attack the terrorists. The terrorist offensive had been thwarted. When the helicopter had spent its ammunition load, the terrorists had downed it from the ground. The helicopter fell down in the area, which is under control of the Syrian government's army.