Russia-Ukraine war: Russia likely to recruit Syrian soldiers to fight in Ukraine
Washington, March 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to recruit Syrian soldiers to fight in Ukraine amid the escalating tensions in Kiev, claimed The Wall Street Journal citing US officials.
Moscow is specifically recruiting Syrian fighters for their expertise in urban combat fighting, according to US officials quoted in the Journal. According to four American officials, Russia, which has been operating inside Syria since 2015, has been recruiting fighters from there in recent days, intending that their expertise in urban battle might help seize Kiev and inflict a devastating blow to the Ukrainian government. According to experts cited by The Wall Street Journal, the move indicates a possible escalation of fighting in Ukraine.
Notably, troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia, have been fighting a fierce battle in urban centres for nearly a decade, giving them a skill set that is hard to find among Russian troops, according to The Hill.
While it's unclear how many Syrian fighters will join the battle, some are already in Russia preparing to enter the conflict, an official was quoted saying by the Journal.
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Syria's involvement would further globalise a conflict that began on February 24 with Russia's invasion.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared an "international legion" of over 16,000 foreign troops who had volunteered to defend the country.
The New York Post stated that Ukraine's Defense Ministry put out a call for foreign volunteers on Facebook, asking for applicants with combat experience who have "citizenship other than Ukrainian, but... are standing with Ukraine against (the) Russian invasion."
On February 24, Russian forces began military operations in Ukraine, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics and announced a "special military operation" to "demilitarise" and "denazify" the country.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold their third round of talks today.
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-PTC News
