Russian troops, defence industry benefit from Syrian operations: Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with journalists after his annual "Direct Line with Vladimir Putin broadcast live" by Russian TV channels and radio stations at the Gostiny Dvor studio in Moscow. Pic/AFP

Russian armed forces and defense industry have benefited from the anti-terrorist operations in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"The experience of deploying our troops and newest weapons in combat conditions is absolutely priceless," Xinhua quoted Putin as saying. He said the Russian armed forces have acquired a "different quality" and some recently created units operated very effectively.

The use of the newest weapons allowed Russia to understand how they performed in combat conditions and representatives of the defence industry went to Syria to see it with their own eyes to make necessary adjustments, Putin said.

Russia started to participate in the anti-terrorist operations in Syria in September 2015. It has now withdrawn the majority of its troops from the war-torn country.