Syria

 Good site exploitation opportunity I’d imagine.

Early on in the offensive there was some photos of a fully intact modern radar system captured by the rebels. Something that apparently whilst the Ukrainians have destroyed some they havent got their hands on any.

I expect some US “diplomat” would have been sent to offer to take it off the rebels hands along with anything else unusual.

a lot of equipment and troops likely heading back to Russia, not good for Ukraine i suspect

a lot of equipment and troops likely heading back to Russia, not good for Ukraine i suspect

We’ll have to see what happens with their Syrian bases.

There are various reports circulating suggesting a variety of outcomes:
Russia has until the end of January to get out (they’re certainly acting like that)
Russia makes a deal with one rebel group to stay, but another local group might take exception
There are no deals
etc.

Two things are certain. The Syrian bases are set up against air attacks, rather than artillery and Russia will be madly spinning diplomatic plates

There is a loss of credibility in the the Middle-East/Mediterranean/African regions, which are all key to Russian operations

Short term they’ll stage in Iran to refuel, etc, but my money’s on infrastructure being built in Libya to service their Mediterranean naval fleet, which they only rebuilt 10 years ago after the collapse of the USSR. I think that the materiel will head in that direction

Article detailing Tartus defences http://www.hisutton.com/Russian-Navy-Base-in-Tartus-Syria.html