Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Alexei Yerkhov, on Tuesday offered his country’s help in stabilizing Syria, warning that the country’s unity is under growing threat. Speaking to Turkish media, Yerkhov pointed to worsening sectarian tensions, infrastructure collapse, and expanding Israeli control in the south, adding: “It is clear that the country is experiencing internal divisions, with the potential for these divisions to worsen.”

He added that “without achieving stability, it will be impossible to restore normal life in Syria,” asserting that Russia is ready to play a “positive role” in supporting reconstruction and reconciliation.

The ambassador continued, "It is clear that the country is experiencing internal divisions, with the potential for these divisions to worsen in the future. Therefore, it is imperative, in my opinion, to ensure the stability of the internal political situation in Syria, to prevent a recurrence of bloody clashes like those that occurred on the Syrian coast, and to work on rebuilding the country's infrastructure, economy, and social sphere."

Yerkhov’s words are unlikely to impress most Syrians, coming as they do from a diplomatic representative of the global power that helped Bashar al-Assad devastate much of Syria, and to bomb, besiege, starve, and dispossess more than half its population in his bid to cling to power.

From 2015 onward, Russia’s military intervention tipped the balance of the war in Assad’s favor — at a catastrophic cost to the Syrian people. Russian airstrikes, often in coordination with Iranian and Assad regime forces, systematically targeted hospitals, schools, markets, and critical infrastructure in opposition-held areas. Human rights groups and UN investigators have accused Russia of complicity in war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilians.

Russia also shielded Assad diplomatically, especially after his forces used chemical weapons more than 200 times. Instead of allowing international investigations, Moscow flooded media with disinformation and blocked UN resolutions seeking justice.

By the time Assad fled into exile in Russia in late 2024, more than half of Syria’s pre-war population had been displaced. Today, Moscow refuses to extradite him, portraying the former dictator as a victim rather than a war criminal.

Throughout its intervention, Russia also coordinated closely with Israel — allowing Israeli jets to strike Iranian targets in Syria without interference. While publicly opposing Israeli strikes, Moscow privately ensured that Assad’s regime and Israeli interests could coexist on the same battlefield.

Now, with Assad gone and a transitional government in place, Syria’s new leadership faces a delicate diplomatic tightrope. Still fragile and heavily reliant on international aid and uneasy regional alliances, the new authorities are constrained in how forcefully they can respond to Russia’s overtures — or to its past actions.

As Moscow positions itself as a stabilizing force, many Syrians are left wondering: How can the country that helped Assad destroy Syria, slandered its people for wanting freedom, and vilified its current leadership, pose as its savior?