Moscow, Dec 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The Russian defence ministry has denied media reports about Moscow sending commando units, air defence systems operators and military equipment to Syria.

"No decisions to send commandos on board Russian warships (to Syria) have been made," Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said.

"It's all nonsense, and media speculation," Antonov said.

On Monday, large landing ships Azov and Nikolai Filchenkov from Russia's Black Sea Fleet departed from Novorossiysk to the Syrian port of Tartus, where the Russian Navy keeps a small maintenance base.

The ships are carrying naval infantry units for protection during the voyage.

They are expected to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits Dec 26-27 and join the Black Sea Fleet task force comprising the missile cruiser Moskva and the frigate Smetlivy in the Aegean Sea Dec 28 before heading to Tartus.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich confirmed Monday that Russia has a contingency plan for evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria if necessary.

The conflict between the Bashar al-Assad regime and opposition forces in Syria has claimed the lives of over 30,000 people since March 2011, according to UN figures.