Demoralized ISIS militants deserting en masse amid Russian airstrikes - Defense Ministry

"The majority of armed gangs are demoralized. Discontent with field commanders is growing amid the fighters, and there are instances of disobeying orders," senior Russian General Andrey Kartapolov told a media briefing.

Cases of desertion among the jihadists are no longer isolated, with them now fleeing "en masse," the colonel general, who heads operations in the Russian general staff, added.

To monitor the situation in the area, drone reconnaissance has been intensified.

Since Russia launched airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria following a request by President Bashar Assad, around 530 strikes have been conducted by its Air Force. Hundreds of terrorists and dozens of command posts, depots and other IS infrastructure have been destroyed.

According to the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, militants were forced to retreat under Russia's strikes, as they have lost large amounts of weapons and military equipment on the contact line with the Syrian Army.

READ MORE: Russian Navy can strike ISIS positions in Syria anytime – general

With no exact deadlines pronounced for the Russian operation in Syria fighting IS, President Vladimir Putin has stressed that no Russian troops will be deployed in any ground operation, with only the Syrian Army fighting the terrorists on the ground.