Terrorists must be destroyed far away from Russia - Putin

MOSCOW, December 3./TASS/. Russian military in Syria are fighting for their country, destroying terrorists far away from Russia, President Vladimir Putin said in his state of the nation address on Thursday. "In Syria, our Armed Forces are first of all fighting for Russia, it is security of our people that they are defending," he said, noting that the Russian army and fleet had convincingly demonstrated their military efficiency and growing capabilities. The biggest threat for Russia was coming from gunmen concentrated in Syria, he said. Putin said many of them had come from Russia or CIS member countries. "They are getting money, weapons, gathering strength. If they get stronger, winning there, they will inevitably come here to sow fear and hatred, to stage blasts, to kill and torture people," Putin said, stressing that they must be destroyed far away from Russia. That is why the decision had been made on a military operation in Syria on the basis of an official request by the legitimate Syrian authorities, he said. Read more