Refugees from Syria are seen at a temporary settlement in Hatay, Turkey, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Feng)

No more than 35,000 people, mainly families of militants, have left the war zones in Syria and moved to Turkey since the beginning of the year, Zhuravlyov said.

MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Russian military on Tuesday rejected statements that Russia and Syria are responsible for a "humanitarian crisis" and "millions" of refugees from the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

"These statements are biased and completely untrue," said Oleg Zhuravlyov, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria.

The Russian center has carried out continuous monitoring of the humanitarian situation in Syria's northwestern regions over the past few years, using drones, telephone hotlines, social networks and direct contacts with local residents, he added.

No more than 35,000 people, mainly families of militants, have left the war zones in Syria and moved to Turkey since the beginning of the year, Zhuravlyov said.

He said up to 250,000 inhabitants, mainly Kurds, were forced to leave the territory as a result of Turkey's capture of Afrin district during the "Olive Branch" operation in 2018-2019.

During Turkey's "Peace Spring" operation in October 2019, more than 135,000 people, mainly Kurds, were also forced to leave their residence, Zhuravlyov said. ■