ABSTRACT
Russia faced obvious risks associated with the intervention. One of them was the ever deeper involvement in the war, which could have – and has – lead to Russian casualties, albeit limited. The next risk was an increase in anti-Russian terrorism, starting with the passenger plane which exploded over the Sinai and ending with attempts to organize or carry out terrorist attacks in Russia proper. Russia was personified in the image of its president, which facilitated the impact on the mass audience. However, Russia carried out major counter-attacks in this information war in cyberspace. The exit strategy remains a challenge. Russia has been able to play a decisive role in Syria, but only in Syria. The Syria policy has been influenced by yet another factor, which Moscow never concealed. Turkey, having initially taken the position of supporting the opposition, including Islamist, suddenly came to face internal destabilization for a number of complex reasons.
