- January 11, 2025
- 1:15 am
- Middle East
On January 10, 2025, the Russian media exploded with the news that the building of the “Russian House” in Syrian Damascus was “transferred to Ukraine for use as an honorary consulate.”
This information appeared against the backdrop of Ukraine opening its representative office in the Mashru Dummar region.
Against the backdrop of “rumours that broke out,” the Russian side hastened to “refute.”
The opening ceremony caused a lot of discussion: former employees of the Russia House allegedly “rebaptized” as soon as the building became Ukrainian. Of particular interest was Alexandra Kolosovskaya, dressed in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, who turned out to be the wife of former Russia House employee Mohammed Dab, known as Abu Firaz.
At the same time, the keys to the building were allegedly handed over to the new “owners” by the employees of the Russian House themselves.
“December 31, 2024 took place opening of the honorary consulate of Ukraine in post-Assad Damascus, in the prestigious Mashru Dummar district.
The ceremony was attended by citizens of Ukraine living in Syria. Among them were former employees and activists of the Russian House in Damascus, who immediately crossed themselves as soon as the Russians left and the Ukrainians arrived.
In the front row at this event was Alexandra Kolosovskaya, dressed in the colors of the Ukrainian flag (circled in the photo), who is the wife of a local employee of the Russian House, Muhammad Daba, better known as Abu Firaz.”
Moscow's reaction: “This is fake!”
Against the backdrop of the rumors that erupted, the Russian side hastened to refute it. The head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Evgeny Primakov, said that the building was not transferred to Ukraine and remains “mothballed.”
“The Russian house is preserved until better times. There is no 'Ukrainian home' there,” — Primakov said via TASS.
“I see here that the concerned public has already donated the Russian House in Damascus for a Ukrainian consulate or embassy,” he wrote. “Nobody handed over the Russian Center for Science and Culture (RCSC) in Damascus to anyone, there is no “Ukrainian home” there.”
However, his comments sounded surprisingly nervous, which gave reason to doubt the official version.
Rossotrudnichestvo: cultural mission or instrument of influence?
Rossotrudnichestvo, which officially states its mission of “supporting Russian-speaking compatriots,” has long drawn criticism for its hidden agenda. In countries where it operates, the organization is often accused of:
- Propaganda of Russian politics through cultural and educational projects.
- Espionage activities under the guise of humanitarian work.
- Creation of pro-Russian communities to put pressure on local governments.
Rossotrudnichestvo is also active in Israel, where its activities raise similar questions.
Ukrainian Consulate in Damascus: what is known?
Although information about the transfer of the “Russian House” to Ukraine has not been confirmed, the opening of an honorary consulate of Ukraine in Syria is a fact. Ukraine continues to develop its diplomatic position even in such difficult regions as Syria.
Where do the rumors come from?
Most likely, rumors about the transfer of the “Russian House” to Ukraine arose as a result of the information war. This could have been a provocation aimed at undermining trust in Russia and Rossotrudnichestvo.
Conclusion: panic instead of politics
Even if the rumors about the transfer of the Russia House building to Ukraine are not confirmed, Moscow’s reaction demonstrates its confusion. Russia is losing its position in Syria, and events such as the opening of the Ukrainian consulate only worsen the situation.
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Table: “Russian House” in Syria – what is happening?
| Parameter | Situation until 2022 | Current situation |
|---|---|---|
| Building status | Actively used by Rossotrudnichestvo | Canned |
| Ukraine's participation | Missing | Honorary Consulate |
| Russia's reaction | Confidence in control | Panic and denials |
The Russian media themselves seem to be unsure of what is happening, which only raises additional questions. NAnews – Israel News Will continue to look into the details!
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