Ukrainian Instructors in Syria to Train Anti-Damascus Militants in Drone Production
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A group of 250 Ukrainian military instructors has reportedly arrived in Syria’s Idlib province to train militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group in the production and modernization of drones, according to a Syrian source.
A source informed Russian Sputnik News that 250 Ukrainian instructors have arrived in Idlib province, northern Syria.
These instructors have been assigned to various production facilities located in the city of Idlib and the Jisir al-Shughur region.
Their primary task is to train HTS militants (formerly known as Al-Nusra Front) in producing and modernizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The source noted that over 250 drones have been delivered to HTS in Idlib in the form of components, disguised within civilian goods.
According to the source, a group of Ukrainian intelligence officials had previously visited Idlib several times, over a month ago.
Their visits were intended to coordinate and plan strikes on Russian forces after fine-tuning the new drone technologies.
The source also claimed that Ukrainian and American forces are shifting their focus from Ukraine to Syria to open a new front against Russian forces in the region.
In addition, the Syrian newspaper Al Watan reported that Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's intelligence services, has maintained regular communication with the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Budanov is reportedly attempting to recruit HTS fighters to join the Ukrainian armed forces.