Russia says about 2,400 nationals fighting with Islamic State: RIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - About 2,400 Russian nationals are fighting with Islamic State militants, Russia's First Deputy Director of Federal Security Sergei Smirnov said Friday, September 15, Reuters reports citing RIA news agency.

Smirnov added that in total there are about 3,000 Central Asian nationals fighting within Islamic State groups.

Speaking to journalists, Smirnov said that the problem of migrants fleeing the Middle East to Europe is only likely to increase, posing potentially a "great threat" for Russia.

"The assertion that Moscow's support negatively impacts the situation in Syria - and the flow of refugees in particular - is not true. This is due to the expansion of Islamic State in the region," he said.

Hinting at the United States, Smirnov said that there are "some countries that try to evade" international cooperation on fighting terrorism.

"There is a cooperation but not at the right level - especially with the United States," he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would consider sending troops to fight in Syria if Damascus were to ask for it.

Dmitry Peskov in comments to Russian news agencies on Friday said if such a request is made, it will be "discussed and considered," but he insisted the question is purely hypothetical at this stage.