Myanmar Spring Chronicle – October 20th Scene
(MoeMaKa) October 21, 2024
The Russian Navy, which includes warships, has been involved in military exercises with Myanmar’s military regime, as they strive to regain control of southern parts of the Yae Township.
In recent days, four Russian Pacific Fleet warships arrived in Myanmar under the pretext of conducting maritime security operations and friendship visits. They are scheduled to participate in naval military exercises with Myanmar’s junta navy off the western coast of Myeik, Tanintharyi Region.
Among the four Russian warships, three are Corvette-class missile-armed warships typically used for coastal defense, while the fourth is a support vessel, according to the junta’s official reports.
Myanmar’s military has long maintained extensive military contacts with Russia, particularly in purchasing weapons and receiving training. These ties predate the 2021 military coup, with Myanmar relying heavily on Russia for fighter jets, military helicopters, and other weaponry. This visit of Russian warships is the second of its kind, not the first.
While it remains unclear how the junta’s live-fire naval exercises in the Andaman Sea will benefit the ongoing civil war, it is evident that the junta aims to strengthen its relationship with a global power like Russia.
Earlier this year, the junta navy had to confront the AA armed group’s capture of a naval base near Ngapali, southern Rakhine State, which was seen as a significant blow to the junta’s naval forces.
At a time when the junta’s ground forces are losing bases, territories, and towns across northern Shan, Rakhine, Kachin, Mandalay, Kayah, and Karen states, the junta is increasingly relying on Russia, a nation criticized internationally for its invasion of Ukraine, to bolster its military strength.
Given the escalating battles in northern Shan State and territorial losses, it is no surprise that China, a neighboring country attempting to mediate Myanmar’s internal conflict, is closely monitoring the relationship between Myanmar’s junta and Russia. While China has not openly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is believed to assist by selling weapons and military technology to counterbalance NATO and the U.S.
Regarding the Myanmar conflict, Russia has thus far limited its involvement to selling arms and providing military expertise. China has not objected to or warned against the growing military ties between the junta and Russia.
Meanwhile, another significant report today involves a joint attack carried out by Mon Defense Forces, Tanintharyi’s People’s Defense Forces, the KNLA, ABSDF, and YPDF on a junta camp along a road in the border area between Tanintharyi Region and Mon State in recent days.
Since the coup, several People’s Defense Forces have emerged in Tanintharyi, including in areas like Dawei, Launglon, Thayetchaung, Yayphyu, and Palaw, where only KNU/KNLA’s Brigade 4 previously operated. Many PDF battalions have now formed in these regions.
The junta did not anticipate such widespread armed conflict in Tanintharyi, but now, more than three years after the coup, they find themselves in a position where they must fiercely defend their territory and military bases in the region.