Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia knows that a terrorist organization struck the humanitarian convoy in Syria.

“We see what is happening: absolutely baseless blaming of Russia for all mortal sins and all crimes, such as the strike on the humanitarian convoy, for example. But we know who attacked the humanitarian convoy. It was one of the terrorist organizations. And we know and will say that the Americans know about this, but prefer to take a different position and engage in baseless accusations against Russia. This does not help the situation,” Putin said during his speech at the VTB Forum “Russia Calling!”

A UN humanitarian convoy was shelled on the night of September 20th northwest of Aleppo. The convoy consisted of 31 trucks carrying aid for 78,000 people. According to the International Red Cross Committee, 18 trucks were destroyed and more than 20 civilians were killed, including the leader of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in Urum al-Kubra and 8 truck drivers.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it takes decisions on airstrike targets in Syria only after a thorough inspection of intelligence. Reports that allege that Russian air forces strike civilian targets have never been accompanied by evidence.

The Russian president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has called the allegations that Russia bombed the humanitarian convoy near Aleppo “unfounded.” The Ministry of Defense of Russia has stated that Russian and Syrian air forces did not strike the convoy.

In addition, the ministry of defense stated that a US-led coalition drone capable of striking ground targets had flown into the area where the convoy was. The Pentagon has claimed that coalition aircraft did not fly over the area where the humanitarian convoy was hit. However, according to Russian defense ministry intelligence, the American UAV left the area of the attack approximately half an hour after the incident.

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