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Karlov Andrei Gennadyevich, Moscow's ambassador to Turkey, was shot in an art gallery in Ankara today during an assassination attempt.

The attack is the latest in a string of incidents to rock relations between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's and Vladimir Putin's countries – both of which have vital interests in war-torn Syria.

Russia V Turkey: How tensions have mounted

In November 2015 the Kremlin was left reeling when an attack aircraft was shot down by the Turkish air force.

Russia denied the plane had been over Turkey and called the act a planned provocation by supporters of terrorism.

A string of sanctions from the Kremlin followed as tensions grew between the nations.

Turkish exports of fruit and vegetables to Russia have been banned, visa-free travel has ceased and many Russian travel agencies pulled the plug on tourist packages to Turkey under pressure from the Kremlin.

In September this year, Russia has expressed "grave concern" over Turkey's brutal military advances in Syria as it continues to back President Bashar al Assad.