Russian marine and air power head for Syria versus Western intervention –

[BobaFett1]

http://www.debka.com/article/23058/Russian-marine-and-air-power-head-for-Syria-versus-Western-intervention-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Cto-defend-Russian-citizens-%E2%80%9D-says-Moscow

[RandomGuy]

Russia does not have the logistics capacity, money, nor will for large scale foreign deployments.


the dispatch to Syria of two warships carrying 600 Russian marines. They were coming, said the official statement, “to protect the Russian citizens there.” Russian Deputy Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Gradusov added that an air force umbrella would be provided the Russian expeditionary force if needed.

600 marines to protect Russian citizens. They have 20,000 there according to the article you didn't really read, based on teh headline.

My guess:
They are getting ready to evacuate their people, ahead of the Assad regime's collapse. The conflict has become a proxy war, and Russian support of Assad is not making the Russians there safer.

Anyone who thinks Russia will deploy any ground forces to defend Assad against the west is reading too much prisonplanet....