Evacuation ship for transporting Russian troops from Syria broke down in open sea.

The ship that Russia sent to transport its weapons and equipment from Syria broke down in open sea near Portugal. The crew of Russians is trying to fix the problem and is drifting in open water. The remnants of the Russian contingent in Syria are now only at the air base in Khmeimim and the naval base in Tartus.

Russia has started to transfer part of its weapons and equipment from the port of Tartus to Libya. Russian military personnel in Syria are also discussing the demand of the new authorities of the Arab Republic – to fully withdraw their military contingent from Syrian territory, including from the bases in Khmeimim and Tartus, by February 20, 2025.

The potential loss of Russian bases in Syria will have serious consequences for Russia's ability to project its power in the Mediterranean, operate in Africa, and threaten NATO's southern flank. The collapse of Assad's regime in Syria will also be a strategic political defeat for Moscow, as it seeks to maintain its strategic military base in Syria.

The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense also reports that Russian troops in Syria are lacking drinking water and food. It is noted that there are discussions among Russian soldiers about maintaining a presence at Syrian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim – referring to a number of up to three thousand servicemen.