Every strategy has a ‘Plan B’. Faced with the resistance of the Ukrainian army, the slow advance of the Russian forces and the threat of discontent from the soldiers of the Kremlin, the alternative of Vladimir Putin begins to appear: a Foreign Legion of Syrian mercenaries. As reported a few days ago by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) and confirmed last Friday by the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, some Syrians are signing up for battle lists in Ukraine. “There are already more than 16,000 applicationsShoigu said.
“We have received a large number of requests for various groups of volunteers from different countries, who want to come to the people’s republics of Luhansk and Donetsk to participate, in whatever way they see fit, in the liberation movement,” Shouig said. Syria was one of the five countries that voted against to condemn Russia’s offensive in Ukraine at the UN General Assembly.
As reported by the British Ministry of Defense this Sunday, Putin has publicly welcomed the recruitment of some 16,000 volunteers, mostly from Syria, to strengthen the Russian front. Shoigu has made it clear that the Foreign Legion will only be sent to Donbas, where the breakaway regions of Lugansk and Donetsk are located.
How much will a Syrian soldier earn on Ukrainian soil?
Why do some Syrians want to go to war? Moscow would be offering a salary to those who support the Russian cause and decide to take up arms in Ukraine. The amount to be received is not clear, and the media indicate very different amounts. According to the Syrian outlet DeirEzzor24, Russia offers salaries of between 200 and 300 dollars.
According to an announcement cited by Guardiana Syrian soldier could perceive up to 3,000 dollars per month (2,750 euros) if he fights against Ukraine, which is 50 times the monthly salary of a Syrian soldier. “Military strikes, foreign operations, and trips to Ukraine, all provided. Salary is up to $3,000 depending on experience”, notes The Guardian. According to testimony to Asian Nikkei of Ali Jafar Askar, a member of the Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Russia offered him $400 weekly (367 euros) to fight with the Russian army.
Why is Syria an ally of Russia?
The Russian involvement in the war in Syria in September 2015 on the side of Bashar al Assad was a turning point that has allowed the Syrian president to recover much of the ground lost to the rebels. the syrian president was among the first to support the “special operation” launched by Vladimir Putin on Ukraine to “denazify” the country.
According to Aron Lund, an expert at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI), “the Al Assad regime is too dependent on Russia enough to question the policy of the Kremlin, especially on an issue of such importance to the Russians.” Following in the Russian footsteps, Syria also recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic. like new countries.
If the conflict in Ukraine drags on and evolves into a “counter-insurgency campaign or turns into a broader war in Eastern Europe, it is conceivable that Putin is forced to withdraw Russian troops from Syria to Ukraine“, underlines an analysis shared by The Soufan Center. Moscow has an air base in Hmeimin and a naval base in Tartus, the only one it has in the Mediterranean.
According to Europa Press, what most worries the Syrians —and could in the long run complicate the situation for Al Assad— is the economic impact that the conflict in Ukraine may have on Syria. For now, the syrian lira has experienced a sharp decline against the dollar and the Syrian government has already proceeded to ration basic goods such as wheat, sugar or cooking oil.
Poverty in Syria pushes military enlistment
The humanitarian situation in the country was already dramatic. 90 percent of the population currently lives below the poverty line12 million already face food insecurity and there are 14.6 million in need of humanitarian assistance, an unprecedented figure, according to the UN.
The country is also suffering the worst drought in decades while inflation, which was already about 140 percent at the beginning of the yearcontinues to rise, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria warned this week, stressing that the conflict in Ukraine will contribute to higher prices and push more Syrians into poverty.
“I was recently released from the military reserve. There are enormous challenges related to living conditions. After being demobilized, could not find any job and the situation was extremely difficult”, indicates a Syrian candidate to fight in Ukraine, in a note published by STJ. And then by chance I heard the names of those willing to fight in Ukraine were being registered.”
#Putins #foreign #army