PHOTO: Russian soldier Ayas Saryg-Ool at a Syrian military base northwest of Hama city
The Live Journal website of Ruslan Leviev, who documented the Russian buildup of forces before the start of Moscow’s bombing campaign on September 30, has posted a lengthy article tracking the spread of Russia’s troops near the frontlines of the Syrian regime’s six-front offensive.
Using the social media posts of Russian troops, Leviev tracks:
*A soldier in the 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, Ayas Saryg-Ool, near Hama city, and then at Syrian military base northwest of Hama;
*A soldier in the 810th Separate Marine Brigade, Vladimir Boldyrev, north of Hama on the Aleppo-to-Damascus highway — in one photo, Boldyrev appears to be having dinner with fellow troops;
*A soldier, Ilya Petrovich Gorelyh, in Aleppo Province and then with colleagues in Homs Province — while his unit is not given, Gorelyh has served in Russian special forces for at least 2 1/2 years
A map of the locations of the Russian troops:
Leviev also posts more photographs of advanced Russian equipment — including T-72A tanks, Smersh rocket systems, and BTR-82A armored vehicles, being supplied to President Assad’s forces.
Vladimir Boldyrev and other Russian soldiers at dinner, north of Hama:
A Russian soldier with a BM-30 Smersh rocket system:
