Turkey launches television channel in Russian as diplomatic relationship strains over Syria and Libya

Turkey’s state-run TRT broadcaster has launched a new Russian-language channel on digital platforms as differences between the countries widen over Libya, Syria and support of S-400 missile system learned GDC citing Bloomberg news.

Turkish military successfully destroyed a large number of Syrian and Libyan weapons supplied by Russian Federation. Turkish Anka and Bayraktar drones strike reduced Syrian and Libyan National Army’s capability. One of Turkish prime targets were Russian-made Pantsir and Buk air defense system. Turkey neutralized Syrian air defense capabilities in Damascus and Homes. Despite heavy losses, Russian Federation continued to supply weapons to Syrian regime, Kurdish forces and Libyan opposition supported by UAE, Egypt and Saudis.

Turkish desatisfaction with Russian-made $2.5 billion S-400 missile defense system broadcasted in Turkish media, –Turkish side called S-400 a chimney. Recently Turkey accused Russia of fruad and deception in S-400 contract as Russian engineers failed to activate defective S-400 weapons in Turkish military base.

TRT Russian will focus on giving alternative perspectives on daily issues and news that is missed in the mainstream media, the channel said on its website.

Turkey and Russia are backing opposing sides in the civil wars in Syria and Libya. Ankara has been providing military and diplomatic support to Libya’s United Nations-recognized administration, while Russian mercenaries have been deployed to back militia commander Khalifa Haftar.

In March, Turkey detained three Turkish nationals who work for Russia’s Sputnik news agency over a story that referred to the Turkish province of Hatay as having been “stolen” from Syria. The detentions coincided with clashes between Turkish troops and Russian-backed Syrian forces in northwestern Syria.

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