Ukraine MFA: Russia and Iran Bear Responsibility for Civilian Suffering in Syria Under Assad

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a condemnation of the Assad regime, denouncing its complicity in the ongoing suffering of the Syrian people and accusing it of transforming Syria into a battleground for authoritarian powers, particularly Russia and Iran.

In its statement on December 2, the Ministry wrote: “Moscow and Tehran bear primary responsibility for the degradation of Syria’s security and the broader destabilization of the region.”

The Ministry accused Assad’s government of not only suppressing its own people but also allowing Syria to become a testing ground for other oppressive regimes and their proxy forces.

"The Syrian state is experiencing a new dangerous phase of war, which may lead to unpredictable consequences for regional peace and security," the Ministry declared. Over thirteen years of relentless war have left Syria devastated, with more than half a million lives lost and millions displaced. The statement attributed this directly to Bashar al-Assad’s regime, calling it a "criminal government" that has paved the way for Russia and Iran to exert their influence through violence and oppression. These actions, it claimed, have been carried out in coordination with proxy forces such as Hezbollah, further destabilizing the region.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also highlighted Assad’s long-standing alliance with Moscow, noting that he was one of the few leaders to recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2016. Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Assad provided additional support by sending mercenaries to bolster Russian efforts in the war. The Ministry emphasized that Assad’s cooperation with Russia underscores his alignment with forces undermining international stability.

“The deepened military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is already destabilizing the security situation in Europe and the Middle East," the Ministry warned. It placed direct blame on Moscow and Tehran for the escalating tensions in Syria, accusing them of bearing primary responsibility for the destruction of Syria’s security and unity. "The horrific crimes committed by the regimes of Assad, Putin, and Iran’s ayatollahs have endangered the survival of Syria as a unified and independent state," the statement added.

The Ministry also called attention to ongoing efforts by Russia and Iran to maintain their control over the Assad regime, warning that these powers are actively working to secure their dominance in the region at the expense of Syrian sovereignty and stability.

On December 1, HUR  reported that Russian forces had withdrawn from the Syrian city of Hama, while military personnel and diplomats were urgently evacuating from Damascus.