SOHR: RUSSIA RECRUITS THOUSANDS OF FIGHTERS IN SYRIA FOR WAR IN UKRAINE

Russia has a list of 40,000 fighters from the Syrian Army and allied militias ready to join its military operation in Ukraine, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

He noted that Russian officials, in coordination with the Syrian military and allied militias, set up registry offices in government-controlled areas.

The revelation came a week after the kremlin said that the volunteers, including those from Syria, will be admitted to fight alongside the Russian army in Ukraine.

“More than 40,000 Syrians have signed up to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine”he claimed Rami Abdul Rahmanhead of the observatory based in Londonwhich has a wide network of sources in Syria.

Moscow seeks Syrians with combat experience in Syria’s 11-year civil war to shore up the invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.

Russian officials sent to Syria to support Damascus have given the go-ahead to 22,000 of the registrants, Abdel Rahman noted.

Some of them came from army units or pro-government militia groups experienced in urban combat and trained by Moscow.

Russia promised them a monthly salary of $1,100 to fight in Ukraine, well above their $15 to $35 salary, the observatory reported. He also offered them $7,700 compensation if they are injured and their families will receive $16,500 if they die in combat.

Another 18,000 men registered with the ruling party Baas and will be evaluated by Wagner Groupa Russian military contractor, the monitoring body noted.

He indicated that so far he has no confirmation that the Syrian recruits have left for Ukraine.

A Syrian government representative denied the recruitment reported by the observatory.

“So far no names have been noted down, no soldiers have registered and no one has traveled to Russia to fight in Ukraine.”declared omar rahmounthe National Reconciliation Committee.