Russia symbolically handed over a puppy to France on Monday to replace a police dog called Diesel who was killed during a raid linked to the Nov 13 Paris attacks.

Igor Zubov, a deputy interior minister, handed the male German shepherd puppy named Dobrynya to French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert at a ceremony in Moscow attended by Russian and French soldiers.

Dobrynya, who must remain in quarantine for up to three months before leaving for his new home, was named after a medieval knight who was the incarnation of "strength, valor and justice", Zubov said.