Russia completes withdrawal of military specialists from Serbia
MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - An Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft carrying the last group of Russian military specialists from Serbia, where they were deployed in April to help the country deal with its coronavirus epidemic, has landed at Chkalovsky Airfield outside Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"An Il-76 military transport plane of the Russian Aerospace Forces has landed at Chkalovsky Airfield in the Moscow region, having delivered the last group of servicemen and special military hardware of the Russian Defense Ministry's combined unit, which was performing its duties in the Republic of Serbia to help it combat the coronavirus infection," the Defense Ministry said.
Thus, four planes have brought back more than 20 service members and seven military vehicles to Russia from Serbia.
Russia performed seven flights from Serbia last weekend. The incoming personnel took express tests for coronavirus infection and had their body temperatures measured upon arrival.
Russian military planes sent 87 people to Serbia on 11 flights on April 3-4. These were military doctors and virologists of the radiological, chemical, and biological protection forces, special medical equipment, protective items, and 16 vehicles.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that Russian military had completed their anti-coronavirus mission in Serbia.
Russia has also dispatched its specialists to Italy and Armenia to help combat coronavirus. The specialists deployed in Italy worked there a month and a half and returned home on May 15. Those deployed in Armenia are still continuing their mission.