'They Look Tense': Photographer Describes Scenes At Russian Base In Syria
- By Amos Chapple
Photographer Umit Bektas described to RFE/RL the strained atmosphere around a Russian air base near Latakia as convoys arrive and transporter aircraft are shadowed by helicopters and military jets.
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A Russian military vehicle nears an entrance to the Hmeimim air base in western Syria on December 15.
This photo is one of several recent images around the Russian base taken by Umit Bektas, a Turkish photojournalist working for Reuters who spoke to RFE/RL about the situation around the military facility.
This photo is one of several recent images around the Russian base taken by Umit Bektas, a Turkish photojournalist working for Reuters who spoke to RFE/RL about the situation around the military facility.
![A Russian transporter plane takes off from the Hmeimim base on December 15 as an attack helicopter flies behind. Bektas says the base is busy with aircraft, but around the Russian compound, the streets are "very quiet... You can see trolleys, a wheelchair lying around, lots of stuff spread out on the road. It gives you the feeling that [something happened] when the rebels arrived at the base." ](https://gdb.rferl.org/4c73a363-8ae9-454d-bb16-6b4cf6767ff4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Russian transporter plane takes off from the Hmeimim base on December 15 as an attack helicopter flies behind.
Bektas says the base is busy with aircraft, but around the Russian compound, the streets are "very quiet... You can see trolleys, a wheelchair lying around, lots of stuff spread out on the road. It gives you the feeling that [something happened] when the rebels arrived at the base."
Bektas says the base is busy with aircraft, but around the Russian compound, the streets are "very quiet... You can see trolleys, a wheelchair lying around, lots of stuff spread out on the road. It gives you the feeling that [something happened] when the rebels arrived at the base."
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A Russian soldier guards a vehicle near the Hmeimim air base.
In a written statement describing his escape from Syria, ousted leader Bashar Al-Assad says he was initially flown from Damascus to the Hmeimim base amid the massive rebel advance . From there he was eventually airlifted to Russia on December 8 after the Russian facility "came under intensified attack by drone strikes."
In a written statement describing his escape from Syria, ousted leader Bashar Al-Assad says he was initially flown from Damascus to the Hmeimim base amid the massive rebel advance . From there he was eventually airlifted to Russia on December 8 after the Russian facility "came under intensified attack by drone strikes."
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A Russian gunner in the turret of an armored vehicle as it approaches the Hmeimim air base.
"It's not possible to communicate with the Russian soldiers," photographer Bektas says.
"They don't answer questions and they don't let you get close. They look tense, but not angry, they didn't show any kind of violence or anything like that," he adds. "They are keeping their composure."
"It's not possible to communicate with the Russian soldiers," photographer Bektas says.
"They don't answer questions and they don't let you get close. They look tense, but not angry, they didn't show any kind of violence or anything like that," he adds. "They are keeping their composure."
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A local man rides past a Russian convoy near the Hmeimim air base.
"The locals are just watching," Bektas says of the situation around the base, which is now without external military protection along its perimeter.
"There are lots of shops with the Russian alphabet on them in the village close to the air base," Bektas says, but all are now closed. "There aren't any Russian soldiers going out individually or in non-armored cars or anything like that."
"The locals are just watching," Bektas says of the situation around the base, which is now without external military protection along its perimeter.
"There are lots of shops with the Russian alphabet on them in the village close to the air base," Bektas says, but all are now closed. "There aren't any Russian soldiers going out individually or in non-armored cars or anything like that."
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Russian servicemen install what appears to be a camera system atop a water tower inside the Hmeimim base.
As well as this apparent CCTV system, which Bektas captured being built, he says there's also "an eye-in-the-sky surveillance system, like a zeppelin on top of the air base for watching around."
As well as this apparent CCTV system, which Bektas captured being built, he says there's also "an eye-in-the-sky surveillance system, like a zeppelin on top of the air base for watching around."
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A Russian fighter jet flies over the Hmeimim air base.
"When a big cargo plane is landing or taking off, a fighter jet takes off first and guards the airport by circling around the airfield," Bektas says.
"When a big cargo plane is landing or taking off, a fighter jet takes off first and guards the airport by circling around the airfield," Bektas says.
![A Russian soldier guards a convoy that broke down on a road near the Hmeimim air base. "There are a lot of convoys arriving," says Bektas. "Some are awaiting transportation or something like that because you can see new tents [inside the base]." ](https://gdb.rferl.org/cc0ef023-beaf-4063-8568-1e8caef3a75d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Russian soldier guards a convoy that broke down on a road near the Hmeimim air base.
"There are a lot of convoys arriving," says Bektas. "Some are awaiting transportation or something like that because you can see new tents [inside the base]."
"There are a lot of convoys arriving," says Bektas. "Some are awaiting transportation or something like that because you can see new tents [inside the base]."
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A Russian attack helicopter patrols the Hmeimim air base.
Bektas says it is unclear whether the influx of Russian troops to the Hmeimim base from positions elsewhere across Syria will remain there, or whether they are awaiting an airlift out of Syria.
Bektas says it is unclear whether the influx of Russian troops to the Hmeimim base from positions elsewhere across Syria will remain there, or whether they are awaiting an airlift out of Syria.
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A Russian transporter approaches the Hmeimim facility.
For Bektas, the most surprising new reality around the Russian base is the fact he is able to work there at all. "In the past, it was impossible to go to Latakia and to shoot pictures like this, you would have been detained in the first minute," he says.
For Bektas, the most surprising new reality around the Russian base is the fact he is able to work there at all. "In the past, it was impossible to go to Latakia and to shoot pictures like this, you would have been detained in the first minute," he says.
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A Russian armored vehicle approaches the Hmeimim base.
"It's interesting to be there without any control, any pressure," Bektas says. The photographer worked by first speaking to the rebel fighters around the base to alert them to his presence, then he says, "you find a relatively high building, stand there for four hours and take pictures. Something that was impossible is now happening."
"It's interesting to be there without any control, any pressure," Bektas says. The photographer worked by first speaking to the rebel fighters around the base to alert them to his presence, then he says, "you find a relatively high building, stand there for four hours and take pictures. Something that was impossible is now happening."
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A Russian attack helicopter flies above the Hmeimim air base.
On December 16, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hinted that Syria's new leaders in Damascus may be pressured to shut down the Russian bases in Syria as a requirement for EU recognition of the Middle Eastern country's new government. "Many foreign ministers took this up to say that, you know, it should be a condition for the new leadership that they also get rid of the Russian influence there," she told reporters.
On December 16, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hinted that Syria's new leaders in Damascus may be pressured to shut down the Russian bases in Syria as a requirement for EU recognition of the Middle Eastern country's new government. "Many foreign ministers took this up to say that, you know, it should be a condition for the new leadership that they also get rid of the Russian influence there," she told reporters.
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A Russian armored vehicle near the Hmeimim base.
Ben Dubow, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told RFE/RL on December 13 that members of Syria's de facto government have "expressed a willingness to engage with Russia and have spoken favorably of Russia in comparison to Iran," but he adds that "this is a newer development in line with their attempts to project moderation and international legitimacy."
Ben Dubow, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told RFE/RL on December 13 that members of Syria's de facto government have "expressed a willingness to engage with Russia and have spoken favorably of Russia in comparison to Iran," but he adds that "this is a newer development in line with their attempts to project moderation and international legitimacy."
