Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria fulfilled task set by Putin

"We accomplished the main task which was set by the Supreme Commander [Putin] last year [2016]," Shoigu said.

"No matter how difficult it was for us, how strongly we needed the support of the international coalition, which, in my opinion, made the situation even worse, unfortunately we did not see any support, thus it [the situation] required us to brace up, deploying there [in Syria] an aircraft-carrying group, additional Aerospace Forces and involving military police," he said.