Russian Ships Blocked from Syrian Port, Equipment Evacuation at Risk

Russian ships are currently unable to access the Syrian port of Tartus in the Mediterranean, facing delays in evacuating military equipment. According to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, Russian ships have been stranded at sea after being denied permission to enter the port.

Russian ships, including the Sparta, which is used for transporting military supplies, have been unable to dock at the port of Tartus for over five days. Pletenchuk confirmed the situation but did not specify the exact military units involved. He stated that the vessels are still waiting on the outer roadstead, unable to access the base.

This denial of access has significant consequences, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing withdrawal from Syria. The inability to offload military equipment puts the evacuation process in jeopardy, raising concerns over the logistics of removing Russian forces and supplies from the region.

Reports indicate that the Sparta ship has faced complications as part of this operation. There were media reports suggesting that it was targeted by explosions, believed to be sabotage. The ship’s owner company, Oboronlogistika, confirmed the damage to the vessel, which sustained explosions on its starboard side before eventually sinking.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Russia has gradually been reducing its military presence in Syria. However, Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest that the withdrawal process has been challenging, with difficulties in evacuating personnel and equipment from the region.