SOHR: Russian forces in Syria receive mercenaries’ applications to fight in Ukraine

According to SOHR, the Al-Qatarji militia has issued a circular to all its members, including members working in the oil fields in Deir ez-Zor countryside, allowing them to register their names to fight alongside the Russian forces in Ukraine at the headquarter of Al-Qatarji militia in the regime-controlled areas of Deir ez-Zor province.

The observatory noted that Al-Qatarji militia is on the list of international sanctions and is accused of supplying the 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 ez-Zor countryside.

On March 12, SOHR reported that in regime-held areas, talks of sending fighters as “mercenaries” to fight alongside the Russians in their war against Ukraine had become the most common topic 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 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 the regime’s army that those who wanted to fight in Ukraine had 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.

According to 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 range between 1,500 and 2,500 USD. 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.