Espreso. Global

Can Ukraine acquire Russian weapons abandoned in Syria?

4 December, 2024 Wednesday
21:07

During their retreat, Russian forces and the Bashar al-Assad regime abandoned a significant amount of military equipment, which was later seized by the Syrian opposition. This includes not only T-90 tanks but also SAMs and Smerch MLRS systems

client/title.list_title

Defense Express notes that some social media users have suggested that Ukraine should negotiate with the Syrian opposition to acquire these "trophies," particularly the rare Russian Podlet-K1 radar.

According to the Turkish monitoring site Clash Report, the Syrian opposition seized a Russian Podlet-K1 radar from a base belonging to the 25th Special Forces Brigade of the Assad regime. The fact that it was captured in a folded position indicates that the Russians, or their Syrian allies, were likely preparing to evacuate it. As a result, they didn’t have time to significantly damage the radar before leaving.

Defense Express says that the Podlet-K1 radar is designed to work with the S-400 and S-300PMU-2 systems. The radar has the following specifications: it can detect targets at ranges between 10 and 200 kilometers, with a maximum detection height of up to 10 kilometers. The station can track up to 200 targets simultaneously, and its deployment time is 20 minutes.

By the summer of 2024, Russia had lost at least three Podlet-K1 radars (destroyed) and one (damaged) during the full-scale war against Ukraine, according to Oryx estimates. According to Defense Express, this highlights the rarity of these radar stations being used in combat.

“Another key point is that the Ukrainian Defense Forces have never captured a complete Podlet-K1 radar as a trophy. Public reports only mention that the remains of a destroyed Podlet-K1 radar were found by Ukrainian forces in Chornobaivka during the liberation of the right-bank Kherson region in November 2022,” Defense Express adds.

It also notes that, turning back to the Syrian "trophies," it's important to recognize the challenges involved. While the abandoned Russian and Assad regime equipment may seem like valuable prizes, retrieving any of it could be logistically difficult. Therefore, setting priorities is crucial, and the most valuable pieces should be targeted first. In this case, that would be the Podlet-K1 radar. Securing this radar could provide valuable insights, which would then help improve the effectiveness of missile strikes against Russian military targets.

Current developments in Syria

A large-scale military operation of opposition forces against government forces continues in Syria. The Syrian opposition launched an active offensive on the morning of November 27 and after two days of clashes took control of 56 settlements in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib and approached the outskirts of Aleppo.

On Saturday, November 30, Russian aviation for the first time since 2016 carried out airstrikes on the city of Aleppo, the center of which has been overrun by Syrian rebels. At the same time, Russia promised Syria additional military assistance.

On November 30, Reuters, citing military sources, reported that Syrian rebels had captured the city of Maraat al-Numan in Idlib province, thus taking control of the entire province.

Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation, believes that Russia will increase its military presence in Syria with the forces already in the region, without deploying troops from the front of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Meanwhile, the Russian authorities have decided to dismiss the commander of the group of troops in Syria, Sergei Kisel, amid losses and growing panic in the Russian military.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Tuesday
4 February
21:45
Gimli robotic complex joins Ukraine's army, aiding in evacuation and resupply
21:30
Exclusive
When could Ukraine hold elections after the war? Lawyer explains
21:12
Ryanair plans to resume flights to Lviv, Kyiv 4-6 weeks after war ends
20:57
Black Sea tankers wreck: IMO holds Russia responsible
20:40
"Don't let them drain resources": military commander reacts to Trump
20:23
Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology, Ukrainian NAUDI agree to cooperate
20:07
Exclusive
USAID funding freeze: Expert Riabtsev on potential risks for Ukraine’s energy sector
19:51
Exclusive
Trump's proposal to get rare metals from Ukraine is political move – analyst
19:35
"We are open to U.S. investments": Zelenskyy responds to Trump's statement on rare earth elements
19:08
Ukraine to introduce mandatory psychological aid training for doctors – First Lady
19:02
Updated
Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s Izyum kills 5, injures 52
18:50
Exclusive
Ukrainian forces may have to withdraw from Chasiv Yar – military analyst
18:33
Von der Leyen urges EU to find "most creative way" to use Russian assets for Ukraine
18:15
Exclusive
Western weapons can now strike deep into Russia, but new problem emerges
17:54
U.S., Ukraine did not discuss elections before 2025 — Ambassador Markarova
17:34
Updated
"The situation is critical": IAEA chief visits key substations vital for Ukraine's nuclear power plants
17:14
Russian national hockey team banned from 2026 World Championship
16:55
Ukraine’s HIV response at risk amid U.S. aid freeze
16:33
Support for military aid to Ukraine declines in Poland
16:15
Russia equips Gerbera foam drones with warheads
15:56
Ukraine’s parliament approves defense loan agreement with UK
15:32
Ukrainian troops release GoPro footage of repelling Russian assault, eliminating two squads
15:14
OPINION
Ukraine’s power sector withstands winter challenges, but risks remain
14:55
Ukraine’s embassy facilitates meetings between Zelenskyy, Trump teams — Ambassador
14:33
Hopes for Russian democracy met harsh reality – Ex-MP Kendzior on Ukrainian diaspora in 1990s
13:57
Review
Russian advance slows down, how Ukrainian Armed Forces approaches change. Serhiy Zgurets' column
13:35
U.S. firefighters document impact of Russian strikes in Ukraine, set to release second film
13:16
Exclusive
Ukraine takes key step in reforming Armed Forces management system – military expert
12:55
Norway provides significant aid to Ukraine but profits from war-driven revenues
12:34
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 15-22
Russian forces scale back assaults in Pokrovsk sector: Ukrainian officer explains why
12:14
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 22-29
Russian forces pushing to launch battle for Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region
11:51
Ukraine retakes positions in Kupyansk, Russian command threatens troops with execution for retreating
11:32
OPINION
Where will Putin and Trump meet?
11:15
North Korean troops no longer fighting in Russia’s Kursk region — South Korean intel
10:53
110 clashes reported at front as Russian forces launch over 6,000 attacks on Ukraine
10:34
Russian army continues to suffer heavy losses despite slowing offensive – ISW
10:13
Scholz calls Trump’s proposal to trade Ukrainian rare earths for U.S. aid "very selfish"
09:54
Russian overnight attack on Ukraine: UAV debris hits Kyiv high-rise, fires in Cherkasy
09:35
Russia loses 1,270 soldiers, 92 drones, 18 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Monday
3 February
22:00
Nearly 63,000 people are missing in Ukraine
More news