Russian defence official Lt-Gen Sergey Rudskoy said the two pilots were shot at from the ground as they parachuted from their burning plane - one of them was killed.
There had been various reports about the fate of the second airman, but Mr Shoygu said Russian and Syrian forces had managed to rescue him.
"The operation ended successfully. The second pilot has been brought to our base. He is alive and well," he was quoted by Ria Novosti state news agency as saying.
Russia Ends Military Ties With Turkey After Fighter Shot Down
Turkish air force F-16
LONDON – Moscow is ending military ties with Ankara after a Turkish fighter shot down a Russian aircraft when Turkey said its airspace was violated.
Earlier, Lt-Gen Rudskoy also said a rescue team using two Mi-8 helicopters had attempted to rescue the two pilots.
"During the operation, one of the helicopters came under small-arms fire, was damaged and made an emergency landing on neutral territory," he said.
"One naval infantryman serving under contract was killed."
He said the rest of the rescue team were safely evacuated from the area to Russia's Humaymim air base near Latakia in Syria.
Syrian rebels say they blew up the helicopter shortly after it landed with an anti-tank missile, releasing footage of the attack.
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