ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia on Friday for hiring mercenaries to fight against his country as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told a Russian security council meeting on Friday that foreigners who want to fight alongside his army in Ukraine should be allowed to do so.
“Regarding the gathering of mercenaries from around the world for Ukraine - we see them, the Western sponsors of the Ukrainian regime do not keep it secret, they do it openly, disregarding international law. So, if you see people, who want voluntarily, without payment, to come and help people living in Donbas - well, we need to meet their efforts and help them to reach the combat zone,” Putin was quoted by the Sky News.
Zelensky said in a video message later in the day that Russia has come with the idea of “throwing mercenaries against our people,” describing the Syrian mercenaries as “thugs” who come from “the country that was destroyed in the same way as the invaders are destroying us now.”
He added that these Syrian mercenaries do not even distinguish between Ukraine’s languages and do not know “what church people go to, what party people supported.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, taking control of several areas so far. The war continues despite of international calls for suspension and efforts to mediate between both countries.
A senior US official said this week that Russia is trying to recruit Syrians to fight in Ukraine, adding that it is not clear how many Syrian mercenaries Putin is seeking, reported the Guardian.
Syria’s news outlet, DeirEzzor24, reported a couple of weeks ago that Russia was looking for volunteers who were willing to work as guards in Ukraine on a six-month contract in return for receiving $200-300 per month.
Russia has not confirmed the recruitment of any Syrians but the country’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that there are 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who want to support Russian troops in Ukraine, reported the BBC on Friday.
Zelensky said recently 16,000 foreigners volunteers had joined Ukraine’s “international legion” to fight for his country against Russia.
Syrians, whose country has been wrecked by a civil war which has continued for over a decade, have previously been used by Turkey as proxies in Libya in 2020.
The main reason behind Syrians' willingness to fight for other countries abroad is money as their country has been suffering from an economic crisis for over a decade.
