Russia's Defense Ministry says it has established direct contact with Turkey's military about Russian military aircraft in Syria, just hours after Turkey shot down an unidentified drone aircraft that crossed from Syria into Turkish airspace.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov says he will consult with Turkish officials in Istanbul on October 18.
Turkish authorities have sent a team to investigate the crash site of the drone to determine who was operating the plane when it was shot down near the Turkish town of Kilis, about three kilometers from the Syrian border and 90 kilometers north of the Syrian city of Aleppo.
U.S. officials say they think the drone was Russian.
Earlier, Russia's state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted a Russian military source who said all Russian aircraft in Syria are "operating as planned."
Russia, Syria's armed forces, and the United States all use drone aircraft in Syria.
NATO member Turkey has repeatedly complained that Russian aircraft carrying out strikes in Syria have violated Turkish airspace.
