Russia possibly stages plane crash to cover Assad evacuation – Ukraine intelligence

Russia may have orchestrated a staged plane crash as a cover for an operation to evacuate ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his close associates.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) shared this information on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

“The escape of Bashar al-Assad from Damascus was accompanied by reports of the disappearance of an Il-76T aircraft carrying the Syrian dictator from radar monitoring. Allegedly, this was due to a shootdown or an aviation accident. Based on available information, the aggressor state, Russia, disseminated this disinformation to conceal its operation to rescue Assad and a select group of his entourage,” the statement reads.

HUR noted that the disappearance of Assad’s aircraft signal from radar was likely a deliberate action by the crew following Russian instructions and under Russian control.

“Meanwhile, the situation of the Russian contingent in Syria remains precarious and deteriorating. The remnants of the aggressor state's forces are hastily packing and departing by sea and air. High-ranking Russian military officials were among the first to flee. For instance, following the failed leadership of General Sergey Kisel, the newly appointed commander of the Russian forces in Syria, General Alexandr Chaiko, left the region after just a week in command,” the statement added.

To transport remaining weapons, equipment, and personnel, Russia has deployed additional ships, including vessels from its Baltic Fleet.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Reuters cited sources indicating that Bashar al-Assad might have died in a plane crash.