Russian serviceman Anton Yerygin has died in hospital after receiving serious injuries in the Syrian province of Homs, the TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
He suffered serious wounds from shelling by militants, TASS reported, citing a spokesman from the Khmeimim air base in Latakia, Syria.
Yerygin had been escorting vehicles from the Khmeimim base for maintenance work when the shelling occurred, the spokesman said. After the attack, the serviceman was rushed to hospital, where Russian military medics fought to save his life for two days, TASS reported.
A memorial ceremony for Yerygin is being held in his native city of Voronezh in western Russia. The soldier will be posthumously decorated with a Russian state award, TASS reported.
Yerygin is Russia's ninth official casualty since the start of the Syrian campaign in September 2015, the RBC news website reported Thursday.
In March, President Vladimir Putin announced the withdrawal of the “main part” of forces in Syria but Russian soldiers continue to provide assistance to the Syrian army.
