Putin refused to send Syrian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine back to help Assad – CNS

The Center for National Resistance of Ukraine (CNS) continues to document and report on the consequences of Russian aggression, exposing the Kremlin's tactics. Recently CNS reported a key episoderelated with Syrian mercenaries sent to Ukraine: Putin refused to return them to support the army of Bashar al-Assad.

Such a refusal indicates the priority of Russian ambitions in Ukraine over “allied” obligations to Syria. Such actions by Putin actually led to the loss of Syria.

“Assad asked the Russian dictator to provide military assistance and release the Syrian mercenaries whom the Russians sent to the war in Ukraine to defend his regime. However, Putin refused his “ally” and actually lost Syria“, the message says.

The Syrian regime, weakened by decades of war, needed military support. Many Syrian soldiers previously sent by the Kremlin to the front in Ukraine played a key role in ensuring the stability of the Assad regime.

The CNS emphasizes that such behavior by the Kremlin is not new. There are similar examples in Russia’s relations with Armenia and other countries that have become victims of Russian influence.

Syrians on the fronts of Ukraine: who are they?

According to official Ukrainian intelligence data, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia actively recruits Syrians to participate in hostilities. In the first days of the invasion, the TV channel The Russian Ministry of Defense reported to Zvezda that 16 thousand Syrian volunteers signed up for the Russian troops.

Russian media claimed that Syrians “feel indebted to Russia,” which helped them in the civil war, and are ready to repay this debt in this way.

In March 2022, 260 Syrian officers from units subordinate to the Bashar al-Assad regime visited eastern Ukraine as part of an reconnaissance mission. After their return, military training for those wishing to become mercenaries for monetary compensation intensified in Syria. According to the Ukrainian government and SOHR, there were 14 Russian-run recruitment centers operating in major Syrian cities such as Damascus, Raqqa and Aleppo.

By April 1, Syrian mercenaries were undergoing intensive training under the supervision of Russian and Syrian officers. However, despite the assurances, there was no information about the mass transfer of these fighters to the Ukrainian front. However, according to information The New York Timesby May 2022, about 300 Syrians who had been vetted by the security services arrived in Russia. Middle East Eye sources reported that about 1,000 Syrian fighters were sent to Russia for training, of which only half later went to Ukraine. The Russian airbase in Khmeimim became the main logistics hub for the transfer of Syrians.

Although the head of the Russian Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu announced the readiness of 16 thousand Syrians to participate in the war, by July 2022 only 2000 people were in Russia, but due to the language barrier their role in the fighting was limited.

According to Middle East Eye, most Syrian mercenaries performed auxiliary functions, such as guarding facilities in Lugansk and Donetsk, working under the command of Wagner PMC, DSRG Rusich and other contractors. Only in critical situations could they be used in battles. By September 2022, small groups of Syrians were actually participating in combat operations in eastern Ukraine, and by October there were reports of the death of Syrian soldiers in the Kherson direction.

In February 2024, it became known that Syrian mercenaries, together with the Russian military, were training to be operators of Iranian Shahed drones and other drones at a base in Syria. This training was led by specialists from Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

However, a BBC investigation found that 80% of Syrians agreed to participate “literally for a piece of bread”, given the humanitarian crisis in their country.

Syrian mercenaries are often used by Russia for the most dangerous missions, including participation in “meat assaults.” This is confirmed by numerous data from the combat zone in eastern Ukraine.

Recruitment through poverty

Syrians who survived the horrors of the civil war are lured with promises of high salaries and Russian passports. First, they are offered work as security guards in Yakutia, and then they are convinced of more “lucrative” contracts at the front. In practice, many of them die without achieving their stated goals.

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate said the Syrians were undergoing military training under the guidance of Russian and Iranian specialists, including members of Hezbollah. The training covers drone control and other military tasks.

Consequences for Russia and Syria

Experts predict a further weakening of Russia's influence. Syrian mercenaries being used as cannon fodder in Ukraine are a clear example of the Kremlin's futile tactics.

“Russia is losing its allies, turning into a weak regional power. Leaving Syria will be yet another proof of the degradation of Russian geopolitics,” – analysts say Center for National Resistance of Ukraine.

Israel's role in context

For Israel, the weakening of the Syrian regime and Russia opens up new opportunities to strengthen its position in the Middle East. It is important to remember that Ukraine and Israel face common challenges: aggression from major players, the need to protect sovereignty and the struggle for international support.

NAnews – Israel News will continue to monitor the situation, analyzing the impact of the conflict on relations between Ukraine, Israel and the Middle East.

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