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With its increased military assistance to Syria, Russia has altered the calculations of all parties involved in the Syrian Civil War. Although Russia’s declared aim is to fight against ISIS, the military nature of its involvement as well as the political overtures that accompanied Russia’s recent military activity suggest a broader and more complex set of political and military goals. This discussion paper investigates the military and political nature of the recent shift in Moscow’s Syria policy and its potential ramifications for the civil war, the region and beyond.