Moscow, Oct 27 (IANS): A Russian soldier who participated in the Russian aerial intervention in Syria, committed suicide at an air base near the town of Latakia, the media reported on Tuesday.
Although an investigation is still underway, preliminary reports from an analysis of text messages on his phone revealed he committed suicide because he had relationship problems with his girlfriend, said a Russian defence ministry spokesman.
The soldier who was stationed at the Hmeimeem base took his own life when he was resting after a mission, EFE news reported.
Russia began an aerial intervention in Syria on September 30 to support Syrian government troops against the Islamic State and other jihadi groups fighting the regime in Damascus.