Russia recruits Syrians for war in Ukraine – Ukrainian intelligence
Photo: illustrative / open sources
In Syria, Russia is enlisting men to join the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine's intelligence press service reports this.
"Destroyed by the war, impoverished Syria has become one of the countries where Russia actively recruits the male population to conduct hostilities. The hired workers are promised Russian passports and paid work, after which few return," the report says.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, though, these assurances often end up being a deadly pitfall, as numerous mercenaries do not make it back home.
Syria, which has endured years of war, has become a significant pool for recruitment in the Russian army. According to intelligence sources, men from economically disadvantaged areas are enticed with employment opportunities in Russia and the chance to gain Russian citizenship. However, many end up participating in military actions in Ukraine, resulting in tragic outcomes.
The report detailed how Russia recruited Syrians Mohammed Mansour and Wahid Mursal Al-Shibli, who then joined the 488th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 114th Motorized Rifle Division within the Russian occupation army (military unit 12721). They were deployed to fight against Ukraine.
Photo: Facebook / Ukraine's intelligence
In July 2024, the Russians deployed Mansur along with 14 Syrian mercenaries to participate in an attack near the city of Svatove in the Luhansk region. As they advanced, Ukrainian soldiers opened fire on them. Despite their injuries, the Russian forces refused to evacuate the wounded and instructed the Syrians to press on with the assault. Mansur, who was also injured, defied the Russian order and fled from the battleground. The remaining members of the mercenary squad were ultimately defeated, and the Russians listed them as missing in action.
On September 15, 2024, the Syrian public wrote about the death of its citizen during the war against Ukraine – the villager Vahid Mursal Al-Shibli received a Russian passport and went to storm Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region as part of a squad of 7 mercenaries. The group was defeated, and Mursal was wounded and died due to the lack of evacuation. Ukraine's intelligence noted that the fate of the other fighters of the Syrian detachment is unknown.
Based on military intelligence, it has been revealed that Russia is collaborating with travel companies to enroll Syrians in their war against Ukraine. The process involves offering low-income individuals jobs as security guards in Russian oil territories and then enticing them with higher pay to join in the Russian raids as cannon fodder.
Russian tactics of engaging Syrians is another example of the cynicism of an aggressor who uses vulnerable people as cannon fodder. Ukrainian intelligence continues to record such cases and calls on the world community to pay attention to Russia's crimes that violate international humanitarian norms.
These facts once again emphasize the threat posed by Russian aggression not only for Ukraine but also for other countries whose poverty and vulnerability have become tools in the hands of Moscow.
For reference:
Russia is recruiting mercenaries in Syria for the war against Ukraine. Russian passports are issued to them under an accelerated procedure.
In addition, the aggressor country recruited 15,000 Nepalis to its army. This happened after the Russian government announced favorable terms of service for foreign fighters who would join the Russian army in 2023.
Also, Indian law enforcement officials have arrested four individuals involved in recruiting mercenaries to be sent to the war against Ukraine.
It should be noted that Moscow intends to continue bolstering the number of its occupying forces. British intelligence said that Putin has plans to enlist an additional 170,000 individuals for the war against Ukraine.
Putin announced that by the end of the year, he intends to enlist 500,000 Russians to join the war against Ukraine, as there are currently 617,000 soldiers already involved.
