ISIS claims it has captured two Russian servicemen - Moscow denies

RT
Tue, 03 Oct 2017 19:20 UTC

© Dmitriy Vinogradov / Sputnik

Russian servicemen

The Russian Defense Ministry has dismissed claims made by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) that is captured two Russian servicemen in Syria. The terrorist group released a footage purportedly showing the two captives.

There have been no incidents related to capture or loss of any servicemen in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"All servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic are carrying on with their duties," the ministry said.

IS terrorist group earlier released a video appearing to show two handcuffed captives wearing grey robes. One of the men speaks in Russian, naming himself and the other captive, who remains silent through the video. Both men bear marks on their faces consistent with beating. RT was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

Reports of the capture of the two Russian servicemen initially emerged last Thursday, as IS claimed they killed one soldier and captured two more during an offensive in Deir ez-Zor governorate. Then as now, the Russian Defense Ministry deniedthat any military personnel had been taken hostage.

Comment: Terrorist group ISIS has released video footage showing two Russian servicemen who were last week reportedly captured in the desert area, and not far from the administrative borders of Homs and Deir Ez Zour provinces in eastern Syria.

The mass media reported earlier that an Islamic State group had posted a video featuring two Russian soldiers it had allegedly captured prisoner.

"There have been no incidents linked with any capture of prisoners or entailing losses among Russian servicemen either in the province of Deir ez-Zor or in any other Syrian province," the ministry stressed.

See also: ISIS creating chaos in Syria's east, captures and kills dozens of Russian and Syrian soldiers - Moscow denies