Russia-Ukraine war | SOHR confirms no Syrian mercenaries are fighting in Ukraine so far
Syrian Observatory sources have confirmed that despite tens of thousands showing a willingness to embark on their fight in Ukraine, no Syrian mercenaries have participated in Russian war on Ukraine, whether Russian-backed mercenaries or other mercenaries who wish to fight alongside Ukraine.
Only representatives of the 25 Division, the Palestinian Al-Quds Brigade, Al-Ba’ath Brigades and the Fifth Corps have visited Russia in recent days to explore and monitor the situation there.
Meanwhile, on the ground, no Russian-backed Syrian mercenaries have taken part in the fighting so far, as well as mercenaries of national army factions and others who wish to fight the Russians alongside Ukraine for money.
On March 14, Syrian Observatory sources reported that since Sunday, Russian forces began receiving applications of those wishing to fight in Ukraine at headquarter of Russian forces in Al-Villat district in Deir Ezzor.
Al-Qatarji militia issued a circular to all its members, including members working in the oil fields in Deir Ezzor countryside, allowing them to register their names to fight alongside the Russian forces in Ukraine at headquarter of Al-Qatarji militia in the regime-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province.
It is worth noting that Al-Qatarji militia is on the list of international sanctions and is accused of supplying regime with various weapons and making deals between ISIS members and regime forces, as well as passing oil and wheat deals in full view of the international coalition in north and east Syria.
Al-Qatarji militia had previously fought alongside the regime forces in several areas across Syria, as well as guarding regime-controlled oil wells in Deir Ezzor countryside.
On March 12, Syrian Observatory sources reported that in regime-held areas, the talks of sending fighters as “mercenaries” to fight alongside the Russians in their war against Ukraine had become the most common talk as these areas are hit by poor living and economic conditions.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, members of Al-Baath party and former leaders of opposition factions who had struck “settlements and reconciliation deals” under Russian supervision during 2018 in areas south of the capital Damascus and Eastern Ghouta had begun to openly promote fighting in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.
According to SOHR reliable sources, members of the ruling Ba’ath Party in Syria informed the former fighters who were in the ranks of the factions and others who had completed compulsory service with regime’s army that those who wanted to fight in Ukraine have to register their name at the headquarters of Al-Ba’ath party and delegates of the Military Intelligence Division in Eastern Ghouta towns and areas south of the capital, Damascus.
It is worth noting that it has been a high turnout of young men to register their names, to escape poverty and poor living conditions in regime-held areas.
According to reliable information obtained by the Syrian Observatory, delegates of the Military Intelligence Division had begun promoting to the young men that the salary to be paid to the fighter in the event of being accepted to fight in Ukraine will approximate 1,000 Euro. However, this is still a mere statement and the real amount of the salaries that mercenaries will receive if they fight in Ukraine remained unknown.
It’s worth noting that mercenaries’ names would be sent to Hmeimim base on the Syrian coast, to be approved.
Here are the areas where names were registered:
• Rif Dimashq: Babila and Beit Saham. The registration of names has been done under the supervision of former military personnel who had struck “settlement” deals, south of Damascus.
• Eastern Ghouta: Ain Tarma, Kafrabna and Zamalka towns. The registration of names has been done under the supervision of members of “Baath Brigades” and delegates of the Military Intelligence Division.