Two military and diplomatic sources told the newspaper Kommersant that Russia is considering the possibility of reducing its armed contingent and weapons supply in Syria.
According to the rumored plan, Russia would withdraw some of its hardware from the Khmeimim airbase, leaving in place sufficient forces to defend Russian military installations at Khmeimim and in Tartus.
Russian defense officials say the Syrian government now controls roughly 95 percent of the country and argue that the Assad regime no longer needs such large-scale Russian military support.
Moscow’s special military operation in Syria began in September 2015. Officially, the intervention is to assist the government in its fight against ISIS terrorists. Western politicians and observers, however, say Russia is in fact helping the Assad regime against all opponents, including the so-called “moderate opposition.”
Vladimir Putin has already announced Russian troop reductions and military hardware withdrawals in Syria twice before: first in March 2016, and then again in December 2016.
According to official data, 38 Russian soldiers have died fighting in Syria. Reuters reports that more than 130 Russian citizens have perished in the conflict. These men were reportedly mercenaries fighting for private military companies.