Syria sends 300 fighters to support Russia in Ukraine – STJ
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria sent about 300 fighters to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine between June and December 2022, after they had received 45-day military training by officers from Russian Wagner group.
Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) revealed, in a report, new information obtained recently that Syrian security companies continue to transfer fighters to Ukraine, “operating as proxies for the Russian Wagner Group.”
The STJ said, citing informed sources, that the recruiters flew approximately 300 fighters to Ukraine through three flight routes, as the first flight sat off from Syria to Russia on 5 June, the second one sat off from Syria to Russia on 7 July, while the third one sat off from Syria to Tehran on 9 September, then from Tehran to Russia on 11 September.
In addition, the STJ stressed that the Russian Wagner Group transfers “mercenaries” from foreign para-military groups active in Syria to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
The fighters, before they were transferred, had gone through “a 45-day military training by officers from the Wagner group,” the source added, citing a second-class officer from the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, affiliated to Syrian government forces.
The officer added that the recruits were informed that in case they die in action, “their bodies would not be returned to Syria, and their families would receive compensation of about 25.000 USD each.”
On Nov. 10, Russia sent more than 500 Syrian militants to eastern Ukraine, tasking them with safeguarding facilities in Luhansk and Donetsk.
In April, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that hundreds of Russian-trained Syrian militants, who have reportedly signed up to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine include Syrian soldiers, former opposition fighters and veteran fighters who fought for years against Islamic State Organization (ISIS) in Syria, have become ready to join Russia-Ukraine war.
At the time, about 40.000 people have registered their names to join the Russian army, according to sources.
In March, Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said during a UN Security Council meeting that Moscow had received more than 16.000 applications from people in Middle Eastern countries to help fight in Ukraine.
However, observers said that it was an attempt by Russia to scare Ukraine and other European countries in the conflict’s early days that started on February 24.