Ukrainian military intel strikes Russian drone base in Syria, media sources say

HUR special forces reportedly struck a Russian military base near Aleppo, Syria, on 15 September, targeting a facility used for manufacturing and testing strike drones.

Sep 17, 2024 - 21:00

Ukrainian military intel strikes Russian drone base in Syria, media sources say

ukrainian military intel strikes russian drone base syria kyiv post sources say hur operation screenshots post's video hur-syria

Ukrainian special forces have conducted a successful operation against a Russian military base in Syria, according to a Kyiv Post source in the country’s military intelligence. The attack, reportedly carried out by the Khimik group of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), took place on the morning of 15 September, on the southeastern outskirts of Syria’s Aleppo.

In May 2023, HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov promised to “destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world.” Besides Syria, Ukrainian HUR special forces continue to hunt Russia’s Wagner PMC mercenaries in Sudan, Mali and other parts of the African continent, although at a limited scale.

The targeted facility was reportedly used by Russian forces for manufacturing and testing strike drones, as well as producing “camouflaged improvised explosive devices.” The combat units of these devices were stored at the position attacked by the Ukrainian special forces.

Footage obtained by Kyiv Post shows the symbol of Ukrainian military intelligence near the Russian base, followed by an explosion and subsequent detonation of ammunition at the Russian facility. The video also reveals explosives that were previously planted inside the base.

This operation is part of a series of attacks carried out by Ukrainian special forces against Russian troops in Syria. In late July 2024, the same Khimik group conducted another strike on Russian occupation forces’ positions in Syria, targeting military equipment at the Kuweires airfield east of Aleppo.

Ukraine’s special forces’ involvement in Syria ties back to Russia’s intervention in 2015. After Russia redeployed troops from Syria to Ukraine, its forces there became more vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks. Additionally, Russia has reportedly been recruiting Syrian mercenaries through centers at its Khmeimim airbase.

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