First group of Russian jets leaves Syria

"The first group of Russian aircraft from the Hmeimim Airbase has departed for home bases in the Russian Federation. The group consists of the ‘leader,’ a Tu-154 [transport aircraft], and multirole Su-34 [Fullback] bombers,” the Defense Ministry said in a press release.

The Defense Ministry said that each group would be led by a transport plane, either a Tu-254 or Il-76, carrying personnel and equipment and would be followed by combat jets.

SputnikNews reports that earlier on Monday, Putin announced that the Russian armed forces had fulfilled their mission in Syria and their withdrawal would begin the following day.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is starting the withdrawal of its air group from Syria as conditions for internal political process in the country have been created.

"The Russian air campaign in Syria has created all necessary conditions for internal political settlement of the Syrian conflict," Peskov told reporters.

"The pullout schedule is the responsibility of the Russian Defense Ministry," Peskov said, adding that Russia will maintain the airbase in Hmeimim and the naval facility in Tartus in order to continue the monitoring of ceasefire regime.