Official media in Damascus is busy mobilizing public opinion to support Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war on Ukraine, amid news of Syrian fighters filling out registration requests to go to fight alongside Russian forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, confirmed that more than 40,000 Syrian fighters have registered to fight with the Russians.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said in statements that registered fighters will go in exchange for financial incentives and great privileges, noting that no one has left Syria to fight in Ukraine so far.
Putin last week stated that volunteers wishing to fight alongside his forces would be allowed to go to Ukraine.
According to Western media reports, he issued orders to bring in more than 16,000 “volunteers” from Syria and the Middle East to fight in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Observatory reported that Syrian militiamen belonging to the 25th Division of the regime’s army, headed by Suhail Al-Hassan, have started preparations to leave for Ukraine to fight for the Russians.
Very reliable sources also told the Observatory that the Palestine Liberation Army, some regime-backed Palestinian militias and militias of “Kata’eb Al-Baath” (Al-Baath Battalion) have also started to register members wishing to fight in Ukraine.
According to sources, the officials behind recruiting mercenaries for Russia are commanders of “Kata’eb Al-Baath” which is affiliated with the ruling Baath party in Damascus. The Syrian regime’s military intelligence branch is said to monitor recruiters.
Moreover, Syrian government agencies in regime-controlled areas are organizing public rallies in support of Putin and his war. Posters of Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were raised in support.
