**Russia’s Focus on Ukraine Weakens Support for Syria**
The UK Defense Ministry has reported that Russia’s focus on the war in Ukraine has reduced its ability to support Syria’s Assad regime. This increases the risk of losing key military assets in the region.
Russia’s goal in Syria is to maintain control over critical military assets, including its naval base in Tartus and airbase in Khmeimim. These installations provide Moscow with strategic access to the Near East and Mediterranean Sea.
The UK Defense Intelligence notes that Russia’s leadership has prioritized the conflict in Ukraine, undermining its ability to sustain support for Assad in Syria. The intelligence update predicts Moscow will seek to engage diplomatically with all relevant actors to secure guarantees for its military bases and preserve its regional influence.
**Russian Military Presence in Syria**
Satellite imagery shows a visible reduction in Russia’s military presence at critical facilities in Syria. This includes the withdrawal of military equipment and naval assets from the country.
Russia has already begun evacuating forces from one of its key military bases, which came under siege. The UK Defense Ministry reports that Russian officials view the collapse of the Assad regime as detrimental to their regional interests and damaging to their image as a security guarantor.
**Ukraine Updates**
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 58 drones out of 132 launched by Russia were intercepted overnight. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been hospitalized with chemical poisoning, and three have died.
Norway will continue training Ukrainian F-16 pilots as part of its support for Ukraine’s defense. The UK reports that Russia has lost 761,160 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
**Global Response**
Washington is considering more sanctions on “shadow fleet” tankers and has not ruled out targeting Chinese banks if they are found to be involved in Russia’s war effort. The EU will host a two-day European Summit on December 18-19.
Ukrainian forces have been enjoying success in the Kupiansk sector, where two Russian bridgeheads were destroyed.