The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria following a lightning insurgent offensive in November has shaken Assad-ally Russia’s near-decade of affect within the nation.
It has additionally had one different lesser-known consequence: disrupting Moscow’s skill to recruit Syrian fighters for its conflict in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Impartial spent a number of months analyzing Russian recruitment in Syria. We uncovered that Russia has been luring Syrians to struggle in Ukraine from a minimum of March 2022 to October 2024, not lengthy earlier than anti-regime rebels overtook the nation in December .
It’s unimaginable to evaluate what number of Syrians have been recruited to struggle towards Ukraine. Completely different experiences cite eyewitnesses who counsel that teams of recruits despatched from Syria to Russia may quantity from 45 to 500 individuals.
However what is understood is that the recruitment marketing campaign was systematic and concerned many actors.
In response to the testimonies of Syrian recruits and their family members, Russian recruiters typically resorted to deception, to enroll fighters from Syria. It seems that recruited Syrians have been often used within the Russian military's assault items, infamous for his or her blatant disregard for casualties.
Systematic recruitment
Ukraine's intelligence file on Russia's recruitment operations in Syria, offered to the Kyiv Impartial by a supply, means that Russia had an in depth community of recruitment.
A few of the data within the file can’t be independently verified. Different assessments may be confirmed by experiences in impartial media and testimonies recorded by human rights organizations.
In response to the file’s Russia’s recruitment community in Syria operated at totally different ranges.
First, Russia used the presence of its personal common military and associated buildings in Syria. This included the actions of Russia’s so-called "reconciliation facilities," arrange allegedly to facilitate negotiations between the rebels and the Assad regime, in addition to distribute humanitarian help. In actuality, the facilities have been used to unfold Russian affect in Syria.
It additionally helped that Russia’s navy presence in Syria had a large community that included sustaining commentary posts and conducting policing raids, underneath the duvet of which Russians recruited Syrians to hitch the Russian military.
Syrians have been typically promised "work within the rear," reminiscent of guarding amenities, logistics, and medical assist. They have been provided tempting salaries by Syrian requirements.
One other arm of recruitment was the community of Syrian recruiters and organizations affiliated with the Kremlin-backed personal navy firm Wagner Group. Among the finest-known of those firms was the al-Sayyad Firm for Guarding and Safety Providers, also referred to as "IS Hunters." In July 2022, al-Sayyad, together with its director, Fawaz Mikhail Gerges, and co-owner, Yasar Husein Ibrahim, have been sanctioned by the EU over the corporate’s exercise “within the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to Libya and Ukraine” and ties to the Assad regime.
Each particular person brokers and paramilitary "personal safety firms" affiliated with the Wagner Group have been actively recruiting Syrians to serve in Libya earlier than Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, they started recruiting fighters for the conflict in Ukraine. Sanad Safety and Safety Providers was one of many firms actively recruiting Syrians. Sanad’s house owners, Ahmed Khalil and Nassser Deeb, in addition to the corporate itself, have been sanctioned by the EU in 2022 over its ties with Wagner, the Assad regime, and the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to struggle in Libya and Ukraine. After Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's unsuccessful rebellion in July 2023, the Russian Protection Ministry took management of Wagner's property in Syria. Recruitment continued.
Some “personal safety firms” concerned in recruiting Syrians for navy service in Russia have been nominally impartial however affiliated with the Syrian regime by their house owners' enterprise connections.
One such firm was ProGuard for Security and Safety Providers LLC. The file claims that ProGuard was licensed by each Assad and the Russian navy to recruit all through all Assad-controlled territory of Syria in 2022-2023. One of many co-founders of ProGuard, Hashim Anwar al-Aqqad, was sanctioned by the EU again in 2014 over his ties with the Assad regime.
The recruitment operation concerned Russian residents as properly. One of many largest recruiting facilities in Tartus, a significant port in western Syria on the Mediterranean coast, was run by a Russian, recognized within the Ukrainian intelligence as “Colonel Vladimir Surdanov.” He was allegedly assisted by a high-ranking officer from one of many regime's particular companies, and a brigadier basic retired from the Assad regime's military.
The file additionally claims that the regime's particular companies representatives have been straight concerned in recruitment. Native authorities allegedly additionally facilitated recruitment.
In response to the file, this was the case in a lot of the regime-controlled territories, together with the cities of Latakia, Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, Damascus and the encircling space, Rif Dimashq, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, and the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
Impartial Syrian media have additionally reported on the involvement of Assad's particular companies in recruitment. The experiences talked about that representatives of the Normal Intelligence Directorate, Syrian Navy Intelligence Directorate and the Air Power Intelligence Directorate additionally participated in signing up fighters. These businesses dealt primarily with inner points in Assad-controlled territory.
Members of the Baath occasion, the ruling occasion of the Assad regime, have been additionally concerned in recruitment, in accordance with a report by Syrians for Fact and Justice, a human rights group that recorded the testimonies of Syrians who tried to enroll.
Among the many recruitment efforts was a devoted marketing campaign concentrating on those that have been already serving within the Syrian regime's military, in addition to veterans. As early as March 2022, recruitment was actively marketed on boards and social media. In a single case, an advert of "Deployment to Ukraine" was posted on a non-public social media group of the 4th Armored Division, led by Bashar al-Assad's youthful brother Maher. In different instances, Syrian officers chosen troopers for "journeys to Ukraine" at their discretion.
Among the many most energetic in searching for "volunteers" for the Russian military have been the infamous Russian-backed twenty fifth Particular Mission Forces Division, also referred to as the Tiger Forces, the sixteenth Division, numerous items of the fifth Corps, and the Liwa al-Quds, also referred to as the Jerusalem Brigade, a unit of Palestinians who fought on the aspect of the Assad regime.
Some experiences by Syrian organizations additionally indicated that Russian management was sending “Syrian mercenaries” principally affiliated with the Wagner Group that had earlier served in Libya or Syria to struggle in Ukraine
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
‘Inside 5 days, he’s develop into Russian’
Wahid Mursel Al-Shibli, a younger man in his twenties from the city of Ariqa within the As-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, was one of many Syrians who fell prey to these recruiting for the Russian military.
In response to Syrian impartial media outlet Suwayda24, a neighborhood middleman promised him "work within the rear" and a tempting wage. Al-Shibli and 6 different Syrians from the identical area have been despatched to Russia in February 2024.
Six months later, on Sept. 15, Al-Shibli’s fellow Syrian troopers knowledgeable his family members that he had been killed within the combating in Luhansk Oblast in japanese Ukraine.
In Could 2024, the impartial media outlet Suwayda24 revealed an audio message from Al-Shibli to his uncle.
"They made me stroll on this. I've by no means walked over human corpses earlier than," the person sounded exhausted and determined.
He described the horrors of the conflict in Ukraine and begged to be rescued and to be introduced again to Syria.
"Scorched earth… It's one thing terrifying… Our bodies within the center. Burned timber, burned individuals… The state of affairs could be very dangerous right here… So I’m begging you, as quickly as you get this voice clip, act instantly. It has develop into a state of affairs of life or dying."
"Scorched earth… It's one thing terrifying… Our bodies within the center. Burned timber, burned individuals… The state of affairs could be very dangerous right here… So I’m begging you, as quickly as you get this voice clip, act instantly. It has develop into a state of affairs of life or dying."
Al-Shibli was killed throughout the subsequent three months. In response to what his family members heard from his Syrian comrades, he was deserted on the battlefield after being injured, with fellow troopers saying he couldn’t be evacuated.
His story is way from distinctive.
An impartial Syrian researcher Qalaat Al Mudiq has reported on the case of Ala Batal, a Syrian recruit who fought for Russia. His household advised Al Mudiq that Batal had suffered from neglect within the Russian military. After his first harm, he didn’t get correct therapy. As a substitute, he was despatched again to the entrance strains, the place he was later killed.
His household within the Aleppo Governorate was not knowledgeable of his dying till two months later.
The household didn’t get Batal’s physique again. All they’ve is a photograph of his grave in an unnamed location, presumably in Russia. Within the picture, there’s a funeral wreath signed by the Russian Protection Ministry.
One of many uncommon items of proof of how Syrians are recruited into the Russian military is a video that was obtained and shared by an impartial Syrian media outlet, Suwayda24, in January 2024. It reveals a bunch of Syrian males posing with their new Russian passports and cellphones. They’re thanking “Dr. Akram” for serving to them acquire the passports. It’s not clear if “Dr. Akram” is the person filming the video.
"Inside 5 days, he's develop into a Russian," the person behind the digicam feedback, pointing at one of many Syrians. “And everybody purchased a telephone… And cigarettes… And should Allah preserve you underneath his gaze."
From open sources, we have been capable of finding that "Dr. Akram" is among the intermediaries and translators who was helping Syrians and recruits from different Arabic-speaking international locations in Russia.
From native media experiences, it seems that "Dr. Akram" labored with some of the infamous recruiters, Wassim Fawaz al-Dimashqi, who beforehand labored for Wagner Group and recruited Syrians to Libya. Syrian media sources point out that al-Dimashqi's actions have been so reckless that he was even arrested by Assad's particular companies in March 2024 "for forging journey paperwork." The Ukrainian intelligence file additionally factors to al-Dimashqi as some of the energetic recruiters within the As-Suwayda Governorate.
In an audio message despatched dwelling by Syrian recruits, revealed by Lebanese-born journalist Wadei Al-Hayek in February 2024, an individual recognized as one of many Syrians recruited by Russia complains about being deceived by al-Dimashqi and his accomplices.
"We have been offered to the Russian military…Wassim al-Dimashqi…is promoting us,” he’s heard saying. “We have no idea the language right here. We’re signing papers and don't perceive something. The translator right here has offered us out and has obtained {dollars} for us."
The traces of Syrians within the Russian military are scarce and are typically present in sudden locations — reminiscent of a propaganda video that includes a Russian navy chaplain.
One is a video revealed by one of many propaganda channels of Russian proxies in Ukraine in February 2024. It reveals Archpriest Pyotr Gritsenko of the Russian Orthodox Church, who’s recognized as "the Deputy Head Priest” of Russia’s “Particular Navy Operation” — the official propaganda time period for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. The caption says that "50 Syrians have arrived to defend Donbas."
To assist this declare, the priest talks to an Arabic-speaking man in a Russian uniform, who calls himself Bassam Seed. He solely introduces himself and says into the digicam, "Pray for me.” In response to a local speaker of Arabic that the Kyiv Impartial confirmed the video to, the person has a Syrian accent however the phrase might point out that he’s Christian.
In one other video, Russians are giving out gloves as help to foreigners recognized as "volunteers from Somalia, India, and Syria." The scene allegedly happens throughout taking pictures follow at a "rear coaching space." One of many males says he’s from Syria and introduces himself as Hussein Muhammad.
The video seems to hunt to exhibit that foreigners assist Russia and be a part of its conflict voluntarily, however doesn’t contact upon how the overseas troopers ended up within the Russian military, or why they needed to depend on help to get gloves.
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
The place did the recruited Syrians go?
In response to the Ukrainian intelligence file, in 2024, the Russian navy command despatched Syrians primarily to Donetsk Oblast and the Kharkiv axis. Syrian media and human rights activists additionally talked about the presence of Syrian recruits in Luhansk Oblast.
In 2022, there have been additionally experiences of Syrians being despatched to Kherson Oblast. In some instances, they allegedly have been to hold out “guarding missions,” not solely partake in fight.
Most of these recruited additionally obtained a minimum of nominal coaching from Russian instructors. Fundamental navy coaching allegedly occurred in Syria. After that, in accordance with the Ukrainian intelligence file, Syrian fighters obtained a primary course within the Russian language and practiced utilizing numerous weapons at coaching fields in Russia.
Rostov-on-Don, a metropolis in southwestern Russia bordering the Russian-occupied a part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, is most frequently cited as a spot the place Syrian recruits went by coaching or have been briefly stationed. Russia’s Belgorod and Rostov oblasts, in addition to Ukraine’s partially occupied Luhansk Oblast, have additionally been talked about.
Generally, the trail of Syrians recruited into the Russian military was extra difficult and considerably incoherent. Some have been promised "jobs" removed from the combating (in japanese Siberia, for instance). Victims of deception flew from Syria to Moscow or different Russian cities, the place they boarded a airplane to Yakutia in japanese Russia. There, the recruits obtained Russian passports and signed contracts (with the "help" of an Arabic-speaking translator offered by the recruiters).
Shortly thereafter, to the Syrians' shock, they have been advised that, in accordance with the phrases of the contracts, they must endure coaching at one of many navy coaching grounds in Buryatia in Russia’s far east, or within the western a part of Russia. Their subsequent cease was fight items of the Russian military combating in Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence file means that Syrian recruits within the Russian military in 2024 have been typically killed in motion. Some ended up within the Russian airborne forces, typically used as shock troops. The Kyiv Impartial hasn’t been capable of finding proof that any Syrians who have been recruited and fought in Ukraine managed to return dwelling to Syria.
Aleppo — Tehran — Moscow
How precisely did the recruited Syrians get to the entrance strains? The recruiters and their accomplices used numerous strategies and routes.
The Ukrainian intelligence’s file reveals that some of the frequent strategies was to deliver recruits to the Khmeimim airbase in western Syria, operated by Russia. From there, they have been allegedly transported by Russian navy transport plane to Rostov-on-Don, a metropolis in southwestern Russia.
One other technique talked about within the file implied that recruited Syrians allegedly boarded Russian industrial cargo ships that have been touring between the regime-controlled ports and Russia.
The dossiers point out three vessels that have been allegedly concerned in transporting Syrian recruits: Girl Maria, Baltic Chief, and Sparta IV, all of that are owned by Russian firms.
The Kyiv Impartial was unable to confirm the claims concerning the first two independently. Vessels concerned in unlawful or sanctioned actions typically disable their transponders in order that their location or the ports they name at aren’t displayed in maritime visitors monitoring companies.
Within the case of Sparta IV, nonetheless, Marine Site visitors knowledge reveals that the vessel was on the port of Tartus in Syria a number of instances between 2019 and 2023. In 2023, the captain of the Sparta IV, a Russian nationwide Alexey Tereshchenko, was charged in absentia by the Safety Service of Ukraine on suspicion of transporting navy gear from Syria to the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
Syrian media and human rights organizations additionally describe instances of recruits being taken from Khmeimim to Mozdok, a metropolis within the North Caucasus with numerous navy bases, or Moscow.
There may be additionally proof that in 2022, Syrians who served in Libya boarded Cham Wings, a non-public Syrian airline owned by one in all Assad’s allies, to take flights from Benghazi to Damascus. They have been allegedly flown from Damascus to Khmeimim, the place Russian Tu-154s have been despatched out for Moscow.
In a single case, a airplane carrying recruits allegedly took off from the outskirts of Homs for Russia in 2022. In one other case, recruits from the Latakia, As-Suwayda, Aleppo and Homs Governorates boarded a civilian airplane from the airport of Damascus to an airport within the Moscow area, in accordance with Suwayda24.
One group of troopers from the sixteenth Division of the Assad regime's military headed to Ukraine needed to make a connection, in accordance with a report by Syrian human rights group, Syrians for Fact and Justice. Mahan Air, a non-public Iranian airline sanctioned within the EU over transferring weapons and associated applied sciences to Russia, took them from Aleppo to Tehran. From the Iranian capital, they flew to Moscow, after which have been taken to a Russian-occupied city in Luhansk Oblast.
The top of Assad’s rule in Syria signifies that Moscow won’t be able to recruit Syrians, a minimum of within the close to future. However Russia’s predatory recruitment of overseas fighters doesn’t finish there. Proof is mounting that the Kremlin maintains recruitment networks in post-Soviet international locations and dozens of nations in South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Center East.
Not too long ago, Russia has been strengthened by the addition of the North Korean troops. In December, experiences emerged of North Korean troopers being killed in massive numbers in clashes with Ukrainian forces. As seen with fighters from Syria, the deaths of overseas recruits on the entrance seem to have little affect on Russia's broader recruitment efforts.
Nizar Al Rifai has contributed to this report.
Notice from the writer:
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