Moscow set to upgrade air and naval facilities near Hmneimin and Tartus

Russia declared that it will start repairing a second runway at Hmeimin air base near Latakia, while the Tartus naval base will be upgraded in order to handle bigger ships such as cruisers, according to an unnamed source.

The source also revealed that Russia will still deploy S-300 surface-to-air defense systems and Bastion coastal missile launchers in Tartus.

Moscow's recent move is contradictory to its previous stance, in which Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a suggestion by the Russian Defense Ministry to reduce Russia's military presence in Syria.

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had started changing the make-up of its strike force in Syria as part of a previously announced partial drawdown.

The ministry was cited as saying that the first six SU-24 bombers had already been withdrawn, but that four SU-25 ground attack aircraft had flown out to Russia's Hmeymim air base in Latakia province as part of a planned rotation.

Russia's previous announcement followed the ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey on December 29.

It is estimated that more than 600,000 people have been killed in the Syrian Civil War, according to the recent figures.