Russia announced on Friday that Syrian nationals could volunteer to fight Ukrainian forces, in response to the West’s alleged delivery of “mercenaries” supporting Kyiv troops.
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Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu “said that above all those who want, who asked (to go to fight) are nationals of the Middle East, Syrians”, declared the spokesman of the Russian presidency. , Dmitry Peskov, shortly after Vladimir Putin approved the idea of facilitating the dispatch of volunteer fighters to conflict zones in Ukraine.
Russia has provided considerable military support to the Syrian regime since the fall of 2015, supporting its forces against both those of the opposition and those of the jihadists, de facto saving the power of Bashar al-Assad, who now controls most of Syria.
For the Kremlin, the sending of foreign fighters to Ukraine is justified, because, according to him, the West facilitates the arrival of “mercenaries” in support of Ukraine, where Russia launched a vast military offensive on February 24.
“If the Western world is so enthusiastic about the idea of the arrival of various and varied mercenaries, then on (our) side we also have volunteers who want to participate,” said Mr. Peskov.
According to him, there is no question of sending Russian volunteer fighters.
Earlier on Friday, President Putin ordered to facilitate the dispatch of “volunteer” fighters to Ukraine in response to what he said was the delivery of “mercenaries” by the West.
“If you see that people want to go there voluntarily, which is not for money, and help those who live in the Donbass (eastern Ukraine, editor’s note), then you have to meet them and help them. to join the combat zone”, said Vladimir Putin, in response to a proposal from his Minister of Defense.
According to him, this is justified, because “the Western godfathers of the Ukrainian regime do not even hide” and openly gather “mercenaries from all over the world to send them to Ukraine”.
Ukraine has announced the creation of a legion of volunteer foreigners integrated into its armed forces to fight Russian forces on its territory.