What are real reasons behind Russian troop drawdown in Syria?
Russia's strategy behind withdrawing its forces from Syria could include wanting to protect them from escalating danger while winning points with voters.
MOSCOW — It might take a Russian chess master to keep track of Russia’s maneuvering of troops in Syria.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced Feb. 10 that a battalion of Russian military police had returned to Chechnya from Aleppo. He said the Chechen capital city of Grozny welcomed the servicemen with a ceremonial rally, and several servicemen received military awards. The battalion had been charged with protecting Russian Defense Ministry facilities and ensuring public order and security for civilians.
"As many as 393 fighters under the command of Maj. Ruslan Numukhajiev returned home safely,” Kadyrov wrote on VK, Russia’s most popular social network. VK has become Kadyrov’s primary means of public outreach since his Instagram and Facebook accounts were blocked in December because of US sanctions.
The returning force, composed predominantly of ethnic Chechens, had been stationed in Syria since December 2016.
