Ukrainian special forces under command of Kyiv's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR [9]) carried out an operation against Russian forces in Syria, according to a video [10] released by the agency. First reported by the Kyiv Post [11] July 31, the raid by the "Khimik" elite unit is said to have targeted Kuweires airbase outside Aleppo, which is used by both Russian and Assad regime forces. Drone strikes followed by a ground attack are said to have destroyed a Russian "electronic warfare complex" at the base, along with other "military objects." The report said the operation was conducted in cooperation with Syrian "insurgents," although it didn't make clear which faction. The strike was reportedly carried out the day after a meeting in the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on July 24. In May 2023, HUR chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov promised to "destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world they may be."
The HUR (also rendered GUR) similarly claimed to have assisted an insurgent attack [12] on Russian forces in Mali last month.
See our last reports on Russia in Syria [13].
