Contents tagged with Syria

  • Ukrainian Intelligence: Russia to relocate military assets from Syria to Africa

    The Kremlin is poised to transfer some of its military assets from Syria to Africa, according to recent intelligence updates. Much of the military hardware stationed in Tartus is awaiting naval transport to Libya, reported the press service of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate.

    On January 5, Russian large assault ships "Ivan Gren" and "Alexander Otrakovsky" are expected to dock at Tartus. Adding to the fleet, the cargo ship Sparta, currently in the Mediterranean Sea, will also …

  • Ukraine and Syria explore restoration of diplomatic ties amid strategic discussions

    During a visit to Damascus, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held high-level talks with Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. The diplomatic dialogue also extended to meetings with Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir and Syria's Foreign Minister Asad Hasan al-Sheybani, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.

    Ukraine expressed its interest in re-establishing diplomatic ties contingent upon the new Syrian regime's respect for international law and Ukraine's territorial integrity. Sybiha emphasized …

  • Russian cargo ship 'Ursa Major' sinks after explosion in Mediterranean Sea

    In a dramatic turn of events, a Russian ship, "Ursa Major," traveling through the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, suffered an explosion and sank. Two crew members are currently missing, while the remaining 14 have been rescued, reports El Español. Earlier sources indicated that the freighter was likely headed for the Syrian port of Tartus to retrieve Russian military equipment and supplies.

    Spanish media outlets state that the surviving crew members have been transported to the …

  • Russian naval convoy enters Mediterranean amid speculation of withdrawal from Syria

    Five Russian ships have navigated past Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea: three large landing ships - “Ivan Gren,” “Alexander Otrakovsky,” and “Alexander Shabalin,” along with cargo vessels “Sparta” and “Ursa Major.” The latter is a cargo ship equipped with two port cranes. “Sparta” and “Ursa Major” are visible on MarineTraffic's map, but military vessels' positions are not displayed. OSINT analysts who specialize in maritime tracking reported the three landing ships' entry into the …

  • Turkey opposes Russian military bases in Syria

    Turkey has voiced its opposition to the presence of Russian military bases in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a discussion with journalists, stated that Ankara does not support the establishment of any foreign military bases on Syrian territory, including those of Russia. "We do not endorse the presence of any bases in Syria—not just Russian, but any other," he emphasized. Fidan further highlighted that the decision should be made by the Syrian people, adding, "If they come to a …

  • Putin dismisses Assad's overthrow as Russia’s defeat

    Russian president Vladimir Putin does not consider the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad a defeat for Russia, citing internal changes among groups that fought against Syrian government forces. According to Putin, Russia has achieved its goal in Syria by preventing the creation of a "terrorist enclave" there.

    "You mentioned Syria. You want to portray everything happening in Syria as some sort of defeat for Russia. I assure you, it is not. And I'll tell you why: we went to Syria 10 years ago to …

  • Russian troops in Syria grapple with supply shortages amid strategic withdrawal

    Russian forces stationed in Syria are reportedly experiencing shortages of water and provisions, prompting a continued withdrawal from remote areas of the country. The issue is notably present at Russia's naval facility in Tartus and the airbase in Khmeimim, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.

    Amidst these logistical struggles, Russian troops have been withdrawing from distant Syrian regions, often accompanied by rebels who have toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime. Ukrainian intelligence …

  • Russia begins withdrawal of military forces from Syria

    Russia has begun pulling its military forces from Syria, according to media reports and satellite imagery. Reuters, citing an anonymous source within the Syrian security forces, reports that on Saturday, a cargo plane departed Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia province for Libya. The source, whose affiliation with either Assad’s security services or the new regime remains unspecified, indicated that more flights are expected in the coming days. Cargo helicopters have also been spotted at the …

  • Assad seeks sanctuary in Russia: a new addition to Moscow's 'collection' of exiled leaders

    Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia on "humanitarian grounds." While there are no official photos yet of Assad settling into his new surroundings, speculation is rife about what he might owe Vladimir Putin for this hospitality and who his new neighbors might be, Digi 24 reports.

    Columnist Mark Galeotti suggests that the discredited Syrian ruler will make his home in Barvikha, an upscale enclave for Russia's affluent near Moscow. Historically, this area housed …

  • Russian lawmaker proposes relocating Assad family to Mariupol to aid Donbas recovery

    In an interview with Russian outlet Gazeta.ru, Dmitry Kuznetsov, a member of Russia's State Duma and the International Affairs Committee, has proposed that Bashar al-Assad, the ousted Syrian president who fled to Russia following rebel capture of Syria's capital Damascus, could be relocated to occupied Mariupol

    Kuznetsov argued that the former Syrian leader, along with his family, should settle in Mariupol, where they could "take it under their wing." For his "contribution to the restoration …