Strategic Assessment

Syria constitutes the first battlefield in which the Russian Federation has, in a coordinated manner and on a large scale, deployed and activated a contingent of expeditionary forces, including career soldiers, special units assigned to special operations, military police, military advisors and technicians, and "volunteers." Russia's new involvement model, as applied and tested on the Syrian frontlines, may further boost Russia's offensive and deterrent capabilities, both in its "near abroad" and in any foreign operation it may undertake.