With the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several sources reported the preparedness for the Syrian fighters to be sent to participate in the armed conflict there. After eleven years of the Syrian war, the daily involvement in the armed clashes and being on the front lines became the main career and the lifestyle for thousands of Syrian men. Furthermore, the difficult living conditions due to the severe Inflation and economic collapse in Syria have left very limited solutions for millions of people in Syria. Also, almost three years have passed since the last change of control between the parties to the conflict in Syria, and this created a big problem for the fighters who used to earn money by looting civilian properties after each successful operation to take control of new areas. For all of the forenamed reasons, the Ukrainian war provided an opportunity for thousands of young Syrians to get a new source of income to feed their families. Considering that thousands of Syrian fighters had already participated in the armed conflicts in Libya and Azerbaijan.
In this context, many local and news sources mentioned that the security services of the Syrian government and many armed opposition groups have opened the door officially to Syrian fighters who want to fight in the Ukrainian war.
On the 4th of March, The Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) reported that Russian officers asked Syrian security services to register the names of experienced urban warfare fighters, while the oppositions started to collect the names for Turkey to send fighters to Ukraine. Noting that Turkey has not officially shown any desire or approval so far. According to STJ, two sources based in Damascus’ countryside were interviewed. The first source is a fighter who registered his name with the SG security services to travel to Ukraine and fight alongside the Russian forces. The second source is a local official from one of the Syrian government-established Reconciliation Committees. Both sources confirmed that lists with potential recruits’ names are being compiled to be presented to the Russian forces stationed in Syria for approval, to deploy them to Ukraine. STJ
Moreover, Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper said that mediators in Damascus and other areas began to sign contracts with young Syrians to fight alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. And that the list of candidates included about 23,000 young men who had fought alongside the Syrian government militias called the "Al-Bustan Association" (affiliated to Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of the Syrian President). Asharq Al-Awsat
In opposition-controlled areas, particularly those under the Turkish military influence, there has been a flood of rumors that Turkish authorities ordered the Syrian National Army factions (SNA), especially Turkman sub-groups, to prepare fighters to send them to participate in combat alongside the Ukrainian forces. Other rumors are circulating in the area, claiming that some factions are already in the process of registering the names of fighters.
However, these rumors contradict the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. While Erdoğan praised “the struggle of Ukraine's government and people” and called “Russia's attack on Ukraine unacceptable,” he stated that Turkey “cannot abandon its ties with Russia or Ukraine.” He claimed that “Turkey would make no concessions from our national interests; however, we will not disregard the regional and global balances, either.” These statements were reflected in the orders the Turkish authorities delivered to the factions of the SNA, stressing that Turkey is unwilling to send fighters to partake in combat beside Ukraine officially, the way they did in Libya and Azerbaijan.
Monitoring individual initiatives, a fighter within the al-Hamza/al-Hamzat Division, known as Suhail Abu Tow/Suhail al-Hamoud posted several tweets in English on 25 February 2022. He was asking for available routes to Ukraine, to fight next to the Ukrainian forces against the Russian army. Al-Hamoud appeared in several interviews with Syria TV on 01 March, Al-Khabar on 02 March, and Orient TV on 28 February during which he confirmed his intention to fight with the Ukrainian forces. He said that he is already communicating and coordinating with the Ukrainian embassy in Turkey to facilitate his participation.
Moreover, the Head of Syria's industry chambers stated in a tweet that after the UK declared support to Zelensky's "foreign legion", at least 2500 fighters are getting ready to be transferred to Ukraine through Turkey and that Syrian opposition in Idlib is working with Turkish intelligence to facilitate the transfer.
Also, according to the Abkhazian Network News Agency (ANNA), a Syrian-Ukrainian businessman is currently preparing to funnel militants from Syria to Ukraine, where they will be thrown against Russian forces. Al-Jasim is working on this with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). Around 200 militants from the Sultan Morad Division and the Al-Shamiya Front have already signed up. They are reportedly amassing now in the Turkish-occupied northern Syrian area of Afrin. Where Al Jasim appeared in a video (on Telegram) on the 26th of February announcing the formation of an armed group to fight Russian forces.
In addition, a local source living in the opposition-controlled Idlib region confirmed that the authorities there announced the start of registration of fighters wishing to participate in the Ukrainian war.
Finally, a pro-Syrian government source Almayadeen claimed that about 450 Arab and foreign extremists from Idlib have already arrived in Ukraine on 8 March. Reportedly around 300 of these fighters are Syrian nationals, while the 150 others are Belgian, French, Chinese, Moroccan, Tunisian, Chechen, and British nationals.
The involvement of Syrian fighters in Ukraine
