and they would have to have Russian training, assistance, and operators in order to use it.
“they would have to have Russian training, assistance, and operators in order to use it.”
Not really...
As I said before, there were reports at the time that several of the AA regiment went over to the rebels. IMO, it is quite believable, especially in a country with universal conscription, that one or two people already knew the basics of how to use it.
How hard would it be, in your town, to find an ex-Mil that could operate an M1 Abrams? And remember, Soviet-Era equipment was designed to be used by barely-trained, barely-literate conscripts.
That’s why this stuff is so popular in the third world.