AKIPRESS.COM - Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov of the Russian armed forces was killed in shelling from Islamic State militants near Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced.
In its statement, the ministry said that Asapov was at a command outpost manned by Syrian troops, assisting commanders in the liberation of the city of Deir ez-Zor, RT reported.
Asapov has been described as one of the senior Russian military advisers in Syria.
"As a result of a sudden mortar shelling by IS militants, Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov was fatally wounded by an exploding shell,” the MoD said.
In recognition of his services, Lieutenant-General Asapov is to be presented with a state decoration posthumously.