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Russian Spy Ship Catches Fire Off Syrian Coast [1]

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Date: 2025-01-27

Here is a nice bit of schadenfreude for fans of glorious Russian Navy. It seems one of their spy ships, the Kildin, which had apparently been monitoring the attempted evacuation of Russian military hardware from their former naval base at Tartus, Syria, managed to catch on fire somehow, and then refused all offers of assistance — even from other Russian ships in the vicinity! From essanews:

A dangerous incident occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, near the coast of Syria. A fire broke out on the Russian spy ship "Kildin." The vessel lost maneuverability for several hours. Despite the serious situation, the Russians refused assistance from other ships in the area. The "Kildin" specializes in gathering intelligence. The ship lost maneuverability and was drifting near the Syrian port of Tartus. The incident took place last week, but reports of it only appeared in the media this past Sunday. Reports indicate that the fire was serious. Flames and thick smoke were coming from the ship's chimney. The crew was preparing to evacuate, but other Russian vessels did not provide assistance. Meanwhile, the cargo ship Milla Moon, flying the flag of Togo, approached the "Kildin" but received orders to move away. The fire was only brought under control after five hours. The French navy monitored the situation at all times, remaining ready to intervene. - It seems that the worst was avoided - said a French officer quoted by RFI. However, it is uncertain if the "Kildin" will be able to continue its mission.

Gee, that would be a real shame. /s

Meanwhile, Forbes has an interesting and very detailed look back at the military relationship between Russia and Syria that is now obviously at an end, though I’ll just quote from its concluding paragraphs:

During its deployment in Syria, which lasted just under a decade, Russia supplied the depleted and fatigued Syrian military with some hardware. It delivered about a dozen T-90S main battle tanks in 2015, followed by larger deliveries of older, albeit modernized, T-62M tanks and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. The “Syrian” S-300 was only delivered in 2018 after a Syrian S-200 mistakenly shot down a Russian transport aircraft while firing at nearby Israeli fighter jets carrying out airstrikes on its territory. Russia blamed Israel for the incident and immediately delivered the system. However, there was a catch. The strategic system remained firmly under Russian military control and was Syrian in name only. Adding insult to injury, Russia withdrew it from the country altogether in 2022 as it committed more resources to its depleting war in Ukraine. ... The swift collapse of the Syrian regime in December 2024 and Bashar al-Assad’s evacuation to Moscow via Hmeimim simultaneously spelled the end of the old Syrian military. Sensing a historical opportunity, Israel swooped in with hundreds of airstrikes, destroying the remaining components of a military arsenal that took over 50 years to build in a matter of days with complete impunity. Syria’s most important military assets, including its MiG-29 fleet, went up in smoke, and all its Osa-class missile boats were sunken while still moored at port.

And just in case anyone was still wondering if the new HTS government in Syria might be willing to let “bygones be bygones” and allow Russia to maintain at least some access to its former naval base at Tartus — the answer appears to be a hard NO. From the Moscow Times last week:

Syria’s new government terminated a treaty granting Russia a long-term military presence in the Mediterranean, a deal brokered under ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, Syrian media reported Tuesday. The agreement, signed in 2017, extended the Russian Navy’s lease on the port of Tartus for 49 years. However, its future became uncertain after Assad was overthrown by Islamist rebels last month. The de facto authorities in Tartus reportedly annulled the agreement and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, the Syrian opposition news outlet Shaam reported Monday, citing the regime’s ministry of information. Authorities also said that revenue from the port would “now benefit the Syrian state,” reversing the previous agreement under which Russia received 65% of Tartus’ profits. The report added that Syria’s new leadership may investigate the treaty’s economic impact on the country.

Likewise, that withdrawal is now well underway. From Ukrainska Pravda:

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