Ukrainian military intelligence was actively involved in supporting the rebels in Syria who overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, David Ignatius writes in his article for The Washington Post , citing informed sources.
According to the publication, Ukraine sent about 20 experienced drone operators to Idlib and transferred about 150 FPV drones to the leading rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. These actions were part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to strike at Russian interests beyond the traditional front.
According to Ignatius, Ukrainian aid played a notable, if not decisive, role in the overthrow of Assad. However, it became an important element of Kyiv's efforts to weaken the Russian presence in the Middle East, Africa, and even within Russia itself.
Ukrainian media previously reported that Syrian rebels, with the help of Ukrainian operatives, had struck Russian military facilities in the region.
Moscow has repeatedly accused Kyiv of conducting covert operations in Syria. Russia's special representative for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, has stated that Ukrainian intelligence officers are operating in Idlib.
These statements add to a series of complaints from the Kremlin about Ukraine's actions in Africa, particularly in Mali, where Ukrainian operatives helped rebels attack Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.
The Washington Post notes , Ukraine's operations abroad are part of an attempt to expand the battlefield, striking the Russians in unexpected places.
“Ukraine is demonstrating that it is ready to act where Russia is not expecting. Although helping the rebels in Syria was not a turning point, it contributed to the fall of a key Kremlin ally in the Middle East,” Ignatius notes.
