Russia Reportedly Planning to Move Its Military Equipment From Syria to Libya

Russia plans to transfer part of its military equipment from Syria to Libya using the cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II, HUR  reported.

According to Ukrainian intelligence data, the Russian forces are waiting for their military ships in the Syrian city of Tartus to transport military equipment and weapons. Additionally, mercenaries from the Russian Ministry of Defense's ‘African Corps’ are stationed there.

“The Russian cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II are planned to be used for transporting military equipment and weapons from Syria to Libya,” HUR’s statement reads.

Ukrainian intelligence has detailed the arrival dates of several Russian vessels.

On January 5, the large Russian landing ships ‘Ivan Gren’ and ‘Alexander Otrakovsky,’ along with the cargo ship Sparta, are expected to reach Tartus, currently en route through the Mediterranean. Onboard the ‘Otrakovsky’ is Captain 1st Rank Yuriy Davityan, chief of staff of the 121st Brigade of Landing Ships of Russia's fleet.

On January 8, 2025, two additional Russian vessels, the cargo ship Sparta II and the tanker ‘Ivan Skobolev,’ are set to arrive in Tartus after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

“At the same time, in Russia, at an airfield in the Vladimir region, armored personnel carriers, likely brought from Syria, were unloaded,“ HUR added.

Previously, during the annual Direct Line broadcast on December 19, Vladimir Putin stated that he does not view the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria as a defeat for Russia.