Damascus, December 27 (RHC)-- Russian troops have discovered a number of mass graves in the city of Aleppo, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.  Major General Igor Konashenkov said the Russians “found mass graves of dozens of Syrians who suffered atrocious torture and massacre.”  Konashenkov noted that "many are missing parts of the body and most of them were shot in the head."

The General did not rule out the possibility that more mass graves could be discovered in the coming weeks.  The Russian Ministry also said that the armed opposition fighters had "laid mines in all possible places: in the streets, in the entrances of buildings, in abandoned cars and motorcycles and even in toys."  The Russians have vowed to document the discoveries as serious war crimes, and to widely publicize the issue.

Aleppo was taken back from rebels last week by Syrian government forces, marking it as Assad’s biggest victory since the beginning of the conflict in 2011.  Since the retake, Christians in Aleppo celebrated Christmas there for the first time in four years.