Russian Armed Forces Conceal Death of Armenian Soldier in Syria

On November 2, 2018, Russian Defense Ministry junior sergeant Andranik Arustamyan was killed in Syria, but the Ministry has not disclosed the news of his death. This was reported by the Russian service of BBC.

The media details that Arustamyan was on his second deployment to Syria. According to the official version, the junior sergeant was killed in Deir ez-Zor, specifically in Ash Shula, from an anti-tank mine explosion.

According to the BBC Russian service, Arustamyan’s relatives have doubts regarding the official narrative of the incident.

A family member with connections to the armed forces stated that an anti-tank mine cannot explode if dropped from a low height. “The Russian missiles, aircraft, and tanks being sent to Syria are new, whereas the munitions, shells, and mines are still of Soviet production, some of which should have been destroyed long ago. An inferior quality mine might have exploded if falling from such a low height,” he said.

One of the slain soldier’s brothers also mentioned that the Russian Defense Ministry is trying to withhold information about unnecessary troop casualties to avoid frightening volunteers preparing to deploy to Syria for military service.