RT journalists injured in shelling on Syria-Turkey border back in Moscow

Two RT crew members and a TASS journalist, who were injured when an anti-tank shell hit their press convoy near the Turkish-Syrian border, have arrived in Moscow from the Russian airbase in Latakia.

The trio of Russian journalists sustained injuries when an anti-tank missile exploded near their vehicle earlier this week. After receiving first aid in Latakia, the journalists boarded a flight that arrived in Moscow on Thursday morning.

“I still have ringing in my ear. I can’t hear with my left ear very well but it’s getting better,” Roman Kosarev said, adding that he is very happy to be home and to see his family.

RT Arabic’s Sargon Hadaya thanked the Syrian Army for “saving our lives.” The journalists said that they were attacked near the town of Sama, under the control of Al-Nusra front and other terrorist groups.

“The explosion was quite loud and we suffered concussion,” said Kosarev, “We were clearly marked as journalists. We were wearing blue helmets, blue jackets …and were clearly visible from the opposite side when they were shooting at us.”

The journalists added that they were threatened by local terrorist groups, who posted their photos online, promising to kill the reporters.

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Moment RT crew's car hit by mortar shell in Syria caught on camera (VIDEOS)

The RT team consisting of correspondents Roman Kosarev and RT Arabic’s Sargon Hadaya took an almost direct hit from an anti-tank missile on Tuesday near the village of Al-Dagmashliya in the province of Latakia. The car transporting the journalists through the government-controlled territory was hit by a missile apparently coming from the Al Nusra-controlled town of Salma some 2.5 km away.

Kosarev suffered a concussion while his colleague from the Arabic had pieces of shrapnel lodge in his back and leg. TASS reporter Alexander Yelistratov also traveling in the car was injured by shrapnel in his hand. They were treated by Russian medics at the military base.

The crew, Kosarev says, survived only thanks to the body armor that they were wearing – and the Syrian army who promptly escorted them back to the base.

Syria condemned the attack as a “new crime committed by terror groups and the states which are sponsoring and equipping militants” in a “desperate attempt to keep the truth from the world.”

The UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq has also somewhat criticized the incident, saying that the United Nations remains “concerned” about the attacks on journalists in Syria.

“We want them to stop, as well as attacks on civilians as a whole,” Haq told TASS.

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