Flag Rodiny: Russia won't mount military presence offshore Syria

Russia has no plans to increase its naval deployments in Syria, Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin said in an interview published by the Thursday issue of the Black Sea Fleet newspaper Flag Rodiny, Interfax reported.

"There are no plans to mount a military presence. Yet we will not leave the area. Moreover, we will upgrade our logistics center (in Tartus)," he said. "The funding will start this year or next at the latest," Masorin said.