'They Look Tense': Photographer Describes Scenes At Russian Base In Syria
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."
