Russian troops in Syria lack food and drinking water - Ukrainian intel
Photo: problems with the evacuation of Russian troops from Syria have worsened (illustration/Getty Images)
Russia continues to withdraw troops from Syria, facing growing evacuation challenges as soldiers lack even food and drinking water, reports Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
According to intelligence reports, Russia’s withdrawal of troops from remote areas of Syria continues, with Russian forces being accompanied on some routes by armed groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“Among Russian soldiers, there are talks that Moscow has agreed to maintain a presence at Syrian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, which would accommodate up to 3,000 servicemen. Issues with drinking water and supplies have been recorded at these bases, as well as on Russian ships in the region,” the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reports.
Currently, the remnants of the Russian forces are awaiting military transport planes involved in the evacuation to deliver food supplies. On December 14, flights were scheduled for two An-124-100 and two Il-76MD aircraft, operating from Chkalovsk to Khmeimim.
Russia’s troop withdrawal from Syria
On December 13, it was reported that Russia had likely begun withdrawing some of its troops from Syria, a claim confirmed by satellite images analyzed by experts.
Since then, Ukrainian intelligence has closely monitored the evacuation of Russian forces from Syria. On December 14, HUR reported significant problems with the evacuation. Hundreds of Russian soldiers are unable to leave Syria, fearing they could come under fire while moving from the Homs province to the Khmeimim airbase.
It is worth noting that after Syrian rebels took control of Damascus, the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad collapsed. More details are available in RBC Ukraine’s coverage.
