Russia may be moving mercenaries to Syria, but not regular army troops.
10:24am•Updated 10:44am
Russia has moved its naval ships from the Tartus naval base in Syria, says the research institute The Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The information is based on satellite images.
Russia has had three frigates, a submarine and two supply vessels in Tartus.
ISW believes that the ships will move to the Baltic Sea because Turkey closes access to the Black Sea for Russian ships.
The reason for moving the ships is not known. The attack by the Syrian rebels has advanced in the direction of Tartus, but does not yet threaten the base.
Ukraine’s intelligence service says that Russia is possibly moving mercenaries of the former Wagner group from Africa to support the Syrian regime, but not the regular army forces that are needed on the Ukrainian front.
Russia also has the Hmeimim air base in Syria.