( CNN ) -- As the total death toll in Syria marches towards 40,000 , the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday lambasted the recent U.S. backing of Syria 's opposition in its quest to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad . Homs and Damascus are the deadliest places in Syria , according to an opposition group that keeps a running total of those whose lives came to a bloody end in 20-month armed conflict . Read more : Syrian opposition leader expects more from U.S. Of the 37,387 who have perished since fighting began , 6,992 were killed in Homs and 6,750 in the suburbs of Damascus , the Violations Documentation Center said . The total number includes 3,061 government soldiers , which the group only recently started to include in its count . Read more : Young Syrian amputee makes dangerous journey to find help . Russia 's Foreign Ministry published harsh criticism in its active Twitter feed of the recent show of support by the United States , France and Arab states around the Persian Gulf for fighters trying to topple Assad . `` The Syrian opposition has been given a false signal , strengthening the positions of extremists , including terrorists , '' a tweet reads . The ministry said the decision went against international principles on Syria established in Geneva . Quoting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov , the ministry tweeted : `` If the priority is Assad 's fate , it will be paid for with new casualties in # Syria . Our key priority is to prevent such sacrifices . '' Lavrov met with the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , on Wednesday . Russia has shown support for its long-standing ally Assad , while the GCC openly backs the opposition . Both sides have been accused of supplying weapons to the conflict parties . The conflict raged on Thursday in Syria 's perpetual flashpoints with no sign of losing intensity . The killing continues to drive civilians to flee over the country 's borders . The U.N. refugee office says 414,838 Syrians are in neighboring countries registered as refugees or waiting to register . Turkey has the single highest number , with 114,944 , it says . The Violations Documentation Center regularly publishes a meticulous tally of those who have been killed during Syria 's armed conflict , claiming to include in its count only those whose deaths are documented on video or with an ID card . It works closely with the Local Coordination Committees of Syria , a source commonly cited in reports on Syria . Both organizations support the overthrow of the Syrian government . The figures in their statistics will continue to rise . Ninety-five people died Thursday , including 46 in Damascus and its suburbs , and 14 in Homs , according to the LCC .
Syria 's death toll rises unabated . Homs and Damascus are the deadliest cities in Syria , an opposition official says . The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the recent backing of rebels . UNHCR : Refugees continue to cross over into neighboring countries .