Russia's War Hawks Fume After Assad's Defeat: 'Shameful'

Russian propagandists have reacted with outrage to the sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, simultaneously condemning Moscow's involvement in supporting the ousted government.

Several prominent Z-Bloggers (military bloggers) aligned with the Kremlin, who have been vocal supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, expressed their frustration as Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham led a rebellion that captured Damascus, forcing Assad to flee to Moscow for political asylum.

The collapse of Assad's Russian-backed regime, which hosts Russia’s only naval base in the Mediterranean, presents a serious blow to Russia's influence in the region and undermines President Putin’s standing at home.

The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Atomic Cherry posted on Sunday, criticizing Russia’s portrayal as a key player in Syria. The channel emphasized that Moscow’s aggressive media campaign had long tried to compete with American portrayals of the Iraq invasion, which became a lasting image of the superpower's actions in the eyes of many Russians.

Russian troops, who entered Syria in 2015 to bolster Assad during the civil war, are reportedly stranded in the country following the uprising, with some bloggers claiming Moscow has abandoned thousands of soldiers without support. The Telegram channel RAG&E posted on Sunday, acknowledging that despite a decade of involvement, Russia has failed to convincingly justify its presence in Syria to the Syrian people, explaining why Assad and Russia are in the right, while rebels and opposition forces are portrayed as enemies.

Alexander Sladkov, a correspondent for Russian state-run broadcaster VGTRK, voiced disapproval over the lack of clarity in Moscow’s actions in Syria, stating that the Russian public remains unaware of the geopolitical and economic rationale behind Russia's presence in the region.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russian state-controlled RT, lamented the chaos in Damascus, describing the situation as “shameful” for Syria and Russia, especially in light of the unfolding events. Pro-Kremlin journalist and blogger Anastasia Kashevarova also criticized Russia’s position, stating that the media continues to humiliate itself in front of the West, particularly former President Donald Trump.

Kashevarova argued that the real global crisis might not start in Ukraine but in Syria, where, according to her, the U.S., Turkey, and Israel have emerged victorious while Iran, Russia, and Syria have lost control. She described Assad as a “clumsy, shortsighted, greedy, and inactive politician,” predicting that the aftermath of his regime would be “bloody and terrible.”