Some of the Russian troops deployed in Syria have returned to Russia today, beginning the withdrawal of a "significant part" of Russian forces from the country announced by Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry said.
"The battalion of military police of the southern military sector (of Russia), which was deployed in the Syrian Arab Republic, was transported by two military transport planes to the airport of Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan," the Russian military said in a statement.
Russian television footage showed soldiers disembarking on the runway at the airport in the small Russian republic of the North Caucasus.
The Tu-22M3 bombers also departed from North Ossetia airport in the Russian Caucasus, from where they took off to strike Syria, to return to their permanent bases, according to the Russian military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday ordered the withdrawal of a "significant portion" of Russian forces from the country after more than two years, during a surprise visit to the Russian Khemimim base in Syria.
He did not specify the number of soldiers involved in the withdrawal. Anonymous sources close to the Russian army told the Russian newspapers RBK and Kommersant about "two-thirds of the constitution and armaments."
Twenty-three Russian planes and two helicopters are expected to leave Syria, as well as special forces units, minesweepers and campaign hospital doctors, according to the head of the Russian forces in Syria, General Sergei Surovikin.
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said there was no longer a need for extensive deployment of Russian troops in Syria. Peshkov said Russia would continue to carry out targeted airstrikes against terrorists in Syria if necessary.
The Russian military intervention in Syria, which began on September 30, 2015, changed the situation, mainly allowing government forces to retake the ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State organization and expel the guerrillas from their stronghold, Aleppo.
Four to five thousand Russian troops have been deployed in Syria over the past two years. Officially, about fifty of them have been killed since the start of the Russian military intervention in Syria.
Last Thursday, Moscow announced the "complete liberation" of Syrian territory from the imposition of IS, although the organization still holds many pockets.
On November 21, Russia had already announced the end of the "active phase of the military operation" in Syria.
Russia is expected to stay in Syria for a long time, with a naval base in Tartu (northwest) and an air base in Hmeimim, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alevis near Latakia.