Syrian rebels seize “pirated copy” of Ukrainian Varta IMV of the Assad’s troops

4 December, 2024 Syrian SAV armored vehicle. Source: OSINTdegender Opposition forces have captured a rare SAV combat vehicle from the Syrian Armed Forces, the design of which was "borrowed" from a Ukrainian armored vehicle.

OSINTdegender posted the video of the captured armored vehicle on his account in X. It is reported that the armored vehicle was captured in the north of the village of Hama. Opposition fighters also released a video showing two more such armored vehicles, but it is possible that one of them was featured in the video released by OSINTdegender.

A SAV Armored Vehicle with the Syrian Armed Forces was captured by Rebel Fighters to the North of Hama, this is not a Russian MRAP or Vehicle like some are claiming. pic.twitter.com/AVh1mdabNv

-- OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 30, 2024

Almost nothing, including its manufacturer and production numbers, is known about the Syrian SAV. Still, their very rare appearance in photo and video materials suggests that the Assad regime has few of them in service. It is worth noting that the first photos of armored vehicles appeared on the Russian Internet in 2019 and were immediately used to discredit the Ukrainian defense industry.

At that time, Russian propagandists, citing Syrian media, claimed that Ukraine was allegedly supplying armored vehicles to the Syrian Arab Republic to circumvent Western sanctions.

Syrian SAV armored vehicles, 2019-2020. Photo from open sources

It is obvious that the Syrian designers were "inspired" by the design of the Ukrainian Varta armored vehicle, especially when looking at the front of the vehicle. At first glance, one can notice a significant difference in the front end: the hood has a different, simpler shape, the radiator grille has six holes instead of five, and the design of the headlights and bumper is different.

In general, due to the lack of appropriate technological capacities, the Syrian clone has a significantly simplified body shape and looks disproportionately tall.

Ukrainian Varta armored vehicle.

Photos from open sources

Militarnyi recently reported that the Syrian armed opposition had completely liberated the province of Idlib.

The fifth day of the offensive was characterized by the advance of opposition forces in the north of Aleppo and towards the central part of Syria with the general direction of Palmyra.