Russian soldiers in Syria lack drinking water and food – reports from Ukrainian intelligence

Military intelligence in Kiev reported that the withdrawal of the Russian contingent from remote areas in Kiev is ongoing Syriaand on some routes, Russian soldiers are accompanied by armed groups of Syrian rebels who took part in the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian soldiers who remain at the Humeimim air base in Latakia and on ships in the port of Tartus “lack drinking water and food.” “There are rumors among Russian soldiers that Moscow has reached an agreement (with the new authorities in Damascus – ed.) to maintain its presence in the port of Tartus and the Humeimim base. The number is said to be up to three thousand soldiers,” we read in Sunday's intelligence statement. It also stated that “the remnants of the aggressor state's group are waiting for the military transport planes involved in the evacuation to deliver food. Two An-124-100 and two Il-76 flights from Chkalovsk to Humeim were planned on December 14,” Ukrainian intelligence reported. .

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After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad the Syrian opposition took full control of the cities of Tartus and Latakia, where two key Russian bases in Syria were located – the air base in Humeim and the naval base in Tartus.

According to the agreement signed by Assad in 2017, the Russian army could stay at the Humeimim airport and the port of Tartus until 2066.

The BBC's Russian section reported earlier that the Russian presence in Syria was not limited to the Humayim base and the port of Tartus. They also used the largest air base of the Syrian Air Force – T-4 in Homs province. Russian troops have also been deployed to multiple checkpoints in Rojava, a region in northeastern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces. It is also likely that Russian forces were stationed in Deir ez-Zor muhafaza in western Syria, as well as in the Golan Heights, near the Israeli-Syrian border, the BBC reported.

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The number of Russian army soldiers in Syria who have “supported” the regime of Bashar al-Assad in the fight against “terrorist groups”, including the so-called Islamic State, since 2015 is approximately 7.5 thousand – the BBC's Russian section reported on December 10, citing on sources.