Four Russian servicemen were killed in Syria when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb, officials have said.
The explosion happened as a Syrian military convoy, including the vehicle with Russian military advisers, was driving to Homs in central Syria from the Tiyas air base, which is close to the ancient town of Palmyra held by the Islamic State group, the defence ministry said.
The ministry added that the bomb was detonated by remote control. Two other Russian servicemen were wounded.
The deaths bring the number of Russian combat casualties in Syria to 27.
Russia launched its military operation in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces in September 2015, helping his troops regain some key ground.