In 2016, in a message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Syrian President Bashar Assad compared the fight for Aleppo to the Battle of Stalingrad. Many Russian historians say that winning the Great Patriotic War, including the Battle of Stalingrad, would have been impossible without help from the home front. Supporting the analogy given by Assad, the Damascus factory functions as part of the Syrian home front, giving damaged tanks a new lease on life.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankWorkers install a newly repaired engine into a tank.
Workers install a newly repaired engine into a tank.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankEngines from armored vehicles stored in a depot at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Engines from armored vehicles stored in a depot at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankA worker at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
A worker at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankA damaged turret from a BMP-1 amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle.
A damaged turret from a BMP-1 amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle.
A restored T-55 main battle tank.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankAn employee works at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
An employee works at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Workers in the process of repairing a tank.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
A worker in the transmission repairs unit.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankWorkers install a newly repaired engine into an armored vehicle.
Workers install a newly repaired engine into an armored vehicle.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankWork in process in one of the units of the armored vehicles repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Work in process in one of the units of the armored vehicles repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankArmored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
Armored vehicles at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the mediabankAn employee works at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.
An employee works at the repair and recovery factory in Damascus, Syria.