The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR: Ukraine: NGO says over 40,000 Syrians enlisted by Russia

'Salary and privileges' guaranteed, but no one has left yet

 Russia has enlisted more than 40,000 Syrian militiamen thus far in Syria, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which has been using a dense network of local sources on the ground for years.

SOHR said Russian military representatives haven’t yet transferred any fighters to the Ukrainian front, although the Ukrainian agency UNIAN said the first 400 have arrived at the borders of Ukraine.

Accommodation and training centers were set up near the border in regions of Rostov, Russia, and Gomel, Belarus.

“So far, more than 40,000 fighters have signed up for enlistment,” said SOHR, arguing that these are not “volunteers” but have signed up on promises to receive “a salary and privileges”.

SOHR said recruitment is underway in Damascus and Aleppo through various Syrian government structures that have been co-opted for years by the Russian military system in Syria.

SOHR citied one of these as the Baath party, which has been in power in Syria for half a century and which has a dense network of representatives in the tormented Middle Eastern country.

It also cited the pro-Damascus Palestinian armed organizations present in the Yarmuk and Nayrab camps, respectively in the Syrian capital and in the metropolis of Aleppo; and Battalion 25, established years ago with Russian funding in Syria.

 

 

Source: ANSAmed