“Russia has lost a key zone of influence in the Middle East, including logistics bases,” Kovalenko noted.
In his opinion, the reason for Russia’s fiasco in Syria was the destruction of the Wagner PMC and its former leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“It was Prigozhin who spent years building up Russia’s system of influence in the Middle East, and Syria was the key to Africa thanks to the Russian bases and naval access to the Mediterranean,” says the head of the Center for Action.
In his opinion, Russia’s role in Africa will weaken. Kovalenko added that the Russian Federation is trying to blame Iran for the loss of Syria.
The head of the CPD believes that the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria is unlikely to affect the war in Ukraine.
“Many say that Russia will now concentrate forces for the war in Ukraine. They are already overheating the economy for the war in 2025, but they will no longer be able to survive for a long time without an unpopular mobilization somehow affecting the ability of the Russian Federation in our war,” – noted Kovalenko.
