“At least Ukrainian specialists and instructors were involved in helping fighters master drone operations while they were fighting on al-Sharaa’s side, when he was still known as al-Jolani,” Matsarskyi said. “Ukraine has significant experience and understanding of modern warfare — how it is conducted, what tools are used, and how to counter them. Security cooperation could be one of the factors in further collaboration.”
Columnist David Ignatius reported in December 2024, citing sources, that Syrian rebels who overthrew Assad received some support from Ukraine, including drones and assistance from Ukrainian UAV operators.
While the support was not decisive, it helped opposition forces “humiliate” Russia in Syria, Ignatius wrote.
Ukrainian intelligence sent up to 20 experienced drone operators and about 150 FPV drones to rebel headquarters in Syria’s Idlib province to assist the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which became a key force in the campaign against Assad, Ignatius reported.
The program was not a major secret, although senior officials in the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden said they were unaware of it, according to Ignatius.
Ukraine’s motivation is clear, Ignatius wrote: its intelligence services are seeking additional fronts where they can undermine Russia and weaken its allies.
Earlier, on June 3, Kyiv Post reported, citing a Ukrainian intelligence source, that rebels supported by Ukrainian operatives had carried out multiple strikes on Russian military targets in Syria since the beginning of the year.
The report included video evidence of attacks on a stone bunker, a white van, and other targets allegedly struck by rebels. Kyiv Post said the operation was conducted by a special unit known as “Khimik” within Ukraine’s military intelligence, in cooperation with Syrian opposition forces.
Before Assad’s fall, Russian officials claimed Ukraine’s alleged ties to the rebel group were an attempt to recruit Syrian fighters for the war against the Kremlin. Russia was caught off guard by the rapid advance of opposition forces and sought to downplay Ukraine’s role, Ignatius noted.