Russian journalists injured by shelling near Turkish-Syrian border while embedded with Syrian army

An anti-tank missile exploded near their car, injuring the journalists with shrapnel

Russia Today and Tass journalists were among those injured in the blast (Russia Today/YouTube)

Three Russian journalists have been injured by shelling near the Turkish-Syrian border.

The reporters were on their way to front-line positions held by Syrian forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad when their car came under fire, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Their press convoy was near al-Dagmashliya in the largely government-controlled province of Latakia when an anti-tank missile struck nearby on Monday.

It came the day before a Russian fighter jet was shot down by Turkey after allegedly entering its air space while flying missions in Syria.

Two of the injured journalists - Roman Kosarev and Sargon Hadaya - were from Russia Today television and the third was from the government-owned Tass news agency

Footage of the incident taken by Russia Today shows the car being directed to park outside a damaged building by Syrian soldiers when a huge impact is heard.

Shattered glass and rocks can be seen flying across the screen as the person holding the camera appears to frantically climb out the car, with shouting heard in the background.

A statement from the Russian defence ministry said: “A group of Russian journalists heading in their cars to the front line of the Syrian governmental army near Al-Dagmashliya at the strategic point Zuayek, was attacked with an AT guided missile system TOW.

“Three Russian journalists were slightly injured, one of them was concussed.”

The statement did not say who which party was thought to have fired the missile but the Free Syrian Army are known to be using TOW systems and Russia Today reported that it was fired from “a rebel-controlled area some 2.5km away”.

Mr Kosarev suffered a concussion, while Mr Hadaya was wounded by shrapnel in his back and leg and the Tass reporter was left with metal embedded in his hand.

They were being treated at Khmeimim air base near Latakia, where Russian forces are based.

Russia started bombing Syria in September and intensified its campaign following the Isis terror attack that killed 224 people on a Russian passenger jet flying from Sharm el-Sheikh last month.

Journalists from Russian media outlets have been embedded with Syrian government forces, who are the Kremlin’s allies, throughout the conflict that began in 2011 and has claimed more than 250,000 lives.