Syria: Russian pilot of downed jet ‘killed himself’ with grenade

A Russian pilot who was shot down in Syria has been posthumously honored after reportedly killing himself with a grenade. Russian warplanes have been ordered to fly higher as they intensify attacks in Idlib.

The Russian pilot who was shot down in Syria at the weekend commit suicide with a grenade before he could be captured by Syrian rebels, the Russian defense ministry said Monday.

Russian authorities have now lionized the pilot’s death, seizing a propaganda victory from Syrian rebels who dramatically shot down the Sukhoi Su-25 jet involved in a major push into Idlib province.

Read more: UN warns of humanitarian disaster, displacement in northwest Syria

A last stand

• After taking heavy fire, Major Roman Filipov ejected and parachuted into a rebel stronghold in Syria’s north-western Idlib province, Russia said.
• Severely wounded, Filipov opened fire on incoming militants with his service weapon before killing himself with a grenade as they closed in, according to Russia.
• An unverified video released by rebel-linked Youtube channel “Idlib Plus” purported to show about 10 fighters closing in on Filipov as he sheltered behind a rock.
• In the video, what sounds like small arms fire is followed by someone shouting in Russian “this is for my boys.” Immediately afterwards, what looks to be a small explosion sends fighters scrambling and a small plume of smoke into the air.
• The Russian Defence Ministry posthumously awarded Filippov the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
• Russian media reported that Syrian and possibly Russian special forces were trying to retrieve his body, and to find out who supplied the anti-aircraft weapon to the rebels.

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