Russian troops withdraw from Syria's Hama and flee Damascus
Photo: Russian troops flee the Syrian capital (Getty Images)
Russian forces in Syria have withdrawn from the city of Hama. Both military personnel and diplomats are also urgently evacuating from Damascus, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence reports.
According to Ukraine's spy agency, the opposition forces are actively advancing in southern Syria, with initial clashes reported in the cities of Hama, Homs, and As-Suwayda.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence stated that Russian troops fled Hama and evacuated to the Khmeimim airbase. Colonel General Alexander Zhuravlyov, Head of the Russian coordination headquarters in Khmeimim, acknowledged that the situation had spiraled out of control for Bashar al-Assad's regime.
"Armed unrest has begun in Damascus, with Russian military and diplomats urgently fleeing the Syrian capital," the report noted.
Ukraine's spy agency adds that the Russians also fled from the military base in the city of Khan Sheikhoun, leaving behind a significant arsenal of weapons and equipment. On December 1, Russian aviation carried out strikes in the areas of Khan Sheikhoun. The purpose of the attack was to destroy Russian equipment that had come under the control of the opposition forces.
As Ukraine's Defense Intelligence noted, news of General Kisel's resignation as commander of the Russian forces in Syria became public. Colonel Vadim Baikulov, who commanded a unit of Russian special forces, was also recalled to Moscow. He must explain to the Kremlin why his subordinate personnel suffered casualties and military equipment in Aleppo was captured.
Situation in Syria
Last week in Syria, rebels led by Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an offensive on the second-largest city of Aleppo. Bashar al-Assad's regime tried to stop the opposition offensive with the support of Russian forces.
Recently, Assad's troops announced their withdrawal from Aleppo. According to the media reports, Russia promised urgent assistance to the Syrian army.
According to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, the Russian troops in Syria are suffering losses. Amid this, Moscow has replaced the commander of its forces in Syria. The position was held by General Sergey Kisel, who was distinguished by his failed decisions during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
