Russia's Defence Ministry today denied a report that alleged Moscow's air strikes had killed 34 civilians in the Syrian village of Al-Shafah in the Deir Ezzor province.<br/>'<br/>It called the report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights "another falsehood," adding the Russian military targets only unpopulated areas and international terrorist groups.<br/><br/>Yesterday, the Britain-based monitor accused Moscow of killing 34 civilians, among them 15 children, in an air strike on the village Al-Shafah which lies on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.<br/><br/>Russia is a close ally of Syria's President Bashar al- Assad, and in September 2015 began amilitary intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory.