Russia has sent a puppy to France in a show of solidarity against terrorism, following the attacks in Paris. 
 
 The puppy - named Dobrynya - is intended to replace French police dog Diesel, who was killed during an anti-terrorism raid in Paris in the days after the attacks. 
 
 There were 130 people killed and hundreds more injured in the attacks on various venues in Paris on 13 November. 
 
 In a letter posted on the ministry's Facebook page, the Russian minister for internal affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsez wrote to his French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve, offering the young canine as "confirmation of our solidarity with the French police in these troubled days". 
 
 Dobrynya was the maternal uncle and tutor of Russian leader Vladimir the Great and was later a hero and knight in Russian folklore, known as "the personification of strength, kindness, bravery and selflessness". 
 
 1 / 4 Gallery: Russia Sends France Puppy In Solidarity Diesel's death prompted an outpouring of grief. Pic: French Police 
 
 The puppy has big shoes to fill. 
 
 Paris police chief Jean-Michel Fauvergue told French newspaper Le Parisien that the seven-year-old "probably saved the lives of policemen who were about to enter". 
 
 Diesel's handler told RMC radio on Sunday: "He checked the first room, which was clear, and then went into the second. I saw him go in, then lost him from view, then the gunshots started. 
 
 "He died on the spot, he's not coming back." 
 
 The dog's death - after being sent into an apartment to check the threat inside - prompted an outpouring of grief on social media. 
 
 Tributes took the hashtag #JeSuisDiesel or #JeSuisChien. 

 Russia's interior minister has said he will send a German shepherd puppy to the French police to honour a police dog killed in action and express solidarity with France in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. 
 
 Russia's interior minister has said he will send a German shepherd puppy to the French police to honour a police dog killed in action and express solidarity with France in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. 
 
 France's National Police said a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd named Diesel was "killed by terrorists" on Wednesday during a raid in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. 
 
 General Vladimir Kolokoltsev said in a statement that along with his condolences over the deadly attacks, he will send to his French counterpart a puppy so that it "could replace Diesel". 
 
 Gen Kolokoltsev said the puppy was named Dobrynya, after a Russian fairy tale knight who "symbolises strength, goodness, valour and unconditional support". 
 
 Earlier this week, many people used social media to pay tribute to the seven-year-old Belgian shepherd dog that France's National Police said was "killed by terrorists" during the raid in Saint Denis. 
 
 Police shared a picture of the SWAT team member on Twitter, saying assault dogs were indispensable to their work. Within hours, 'Je Suis Chien' - inspired by the popular slogan 'Je Suis ', used worldwide in solidarity after the Charlie Hebdo attacks earlier this year - had gone viral. 
 
 Online Editors
– Russia is sending a German shepherd puppy named Dobrynya to France in the cuddliest show of international solidarity possible, the Independent reports. In Russian folklore, Dobrynya was "the personification of strength, kindness, bravery and selflessness," according to Sky News. In a statement, a Russian official called the puppy a "confirmation of our solidarity with the French police in these troubled days." The Independent reports it's hoped Dobrynya will replace the French police dog Diesel, who was killed during an anti-terrorism raid on an apartment Wednesday. Tributes to Diesel went viral on social media following the dog's death.