Russian soldiers display the remains of, what they said was, a drone belonging to rebel fighters and was shot down over the base in the Russian air base in Hmeimim in the northwestern Syrian province of Latakia on August 16, 2018. (AFP PHOTO)
MOSCOW, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Hmeimim airbase in Syria has intercepted a total of 45 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
"Over the past month, 45 UAVs equipped with improvised explosive devices were destroyed by the base's air defense or (by) means of radio-electronic warfare systems. Five drones were shot down over the past three days," the ministry's spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov was quoted as saying by Russian media at a briefing.
According to Konashenkov, attempts to commit terrorist attacks involving UAVs have increased over the past month.
He noted that the UAVs are supported by modern technology, in particular, navigation systems, control systems and explosive devices.
Russian experts analyzed the UAVs that were intercepted and concluded that they were assembled according to a clear instruction developed by specialists and, accordingly, the attacks were also carried out according to instructions, Konashenkov said.
The Hmeimim airbase in Syria's northwestern province of Latakia is the largest Russian-run military facility in the country.
In the last few months, the airbase has encountered frequent attacks and its air defenses have intercepted or destroyed a number of unidentified objects targeting the base, according to the Russian military.
Russian positions in Syria, including its embassy in the capital Damascus, have repeatedly been targeted by rebels who oppose Russia's role in supporting the Syrian government.