Syria’s New Rulers May Block Russia From Evacuating Naval Base

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claims that Russia is encountering difficulties in gaining access to its longtime naval base in Tartus, where it appears to have staged large quantities of military equipment for outward shipment. One of the Russian naval vessels stuck offshore Syria, the amphib Alexander Otrakovsky, has now developed technical issues with its water desalination plant and with leaking fuel tanks – but it cannot enter port for repairs, according to Ukraine’s HU…