Commander of Russian Paratroopers’ Battalion Was Killed in Syria – Reports

Major Sanal Sanchirov, a commander of a Russian assault battalion, was reportedly killed in Syria.

Technicians at Syria’s Hmeimim airport where Russian aircraft are deployed. © Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti

Commander of a Russian assault battalion, Major Sanal Sanchirov, reportedly lost his life in Syria.

Information about his death appeared in social networks last week. The funeral of the serviceman allegedly took place in the Kalmykian village of Yashkul on December 13.

Later, the information about the battalion commander’s death was confirmed by the village’s administration.

The Russian Defense Ministry still has not commented on this information.

Last Monday, on December 12, the Yashkul’s culture centre announced on its official page on the Vkontakte social network that a mourning rally in memory of deceased Sanchirov will take place on December 13.

“Dear fellow-countrymen! Tomorrow, on December 13, a mourning rally – the last respects for our countryman, commander of an airborne assault battalion of the 74507 army unit, Major Sanal Sanchirov, will take place in the Yashkul’s culture centre at 10:00 am,” the announcement read.

Major Sanal Sanchirov (Photo: free-news.su)

In addition, on December 12, an anonymous post about the death of Sanchirov appeared in another local public account on Vkontakte. Judging by a signature, left under the post, it was written by veterans of the airborne forces.

“Our brother, friend, an officer-paratrooper, Major of the airborne forces Sanal Sanchirov fell in discharge of duty in the Syrian Arab Republic,” the post read.

The statement specified that Sanchirov graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after V.F. Margelov and “passed through all stages of military service from a platoon commander to a commander of an assault battalion.”