Moscow said on Monday that its bombing campaign in Syria was not targeting civilians after monitors said fresh Russian strikes had killed at least 12 children and three adults, including a teacher.
"Russia does not conduct operations against civilians," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier Monday that a Russian air strike in Aleppo province had killed at least 12 children and three adults and injured another 20 children and teachers.
Russia has come under growing criticism from the West as well as human rights groups and Syrian rebels for inflicting civilian casualties in the bombing campaign it launched on September 30 at the request of President Bashar al-Assad, its long-time ally.