Russian soldier dies in Syria after coming under fire

A Russian soldier has died in Syria after coming under fire from opposition in Homs province, a representative of Russia’s Hmeimim air base told Russian news agencies on Wednesday, Breitbart reported.

The Defense Ministry said on May 11 that Anton Yerygin died in a hospital after being wounded in a shelling by militants.

It said the attack occurred as Yerygin was escorting vehicles of the Russian Center for Reconciliation, which is tasked to help cement a Russian- and U.S.-brokered cease-fire.

A representative of Russia’s Hmeimim air base in Syria’s Latakia Province was quoted as saying doctors fought for Yerygin’s life for two days at the military hospital where he was taken after the attack.

The soldier will be decorated with a posthumous medal, he said.

Yerygin is the ninth Russian serviceman who has died in Syria since the start of Russia’s Syrian military campaign in September, according to Russian officials, Radio Free Europe reported.