Russia slammed Turkish authorities, who accused Moscow of civilians’ deaths in Syria, calling the claims "dirty tricks," FNA reported.

Russia slammed Turkish authorities, who accused Moscow of civilians' deaths in Syria, calling the claims "dirty tricks," FNA reported.

Addressing a weekly press briefing in Moscow on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Ankara was playing a "covert game" in Syria in its own interests in the region.

According to her, it is crystal clear that Ankara is "trying to change the ethnic composition in the country's [Syria's] North in its own interests" under the pretext of the fight against the ISIL.

"We condemn this destructive policy leading to the deterioration of the situation in the region and call for a constructive work in the framework of international efforts," the Spokeswoman added.