As Russia’s war on Ukraine escalates, there is emerging evidence that the Syrian government and its Russian military partners are recruiting Syrian fighters for potential deployment to the former Soviet state, a move that would further stain the Kremlin’s image and constitute a blatant breach of international law. 

Syrians for Truth and Justice, an independent civil society organization that has been monitoring the more than decade-long Syrian conflict, announced in a report today that it had interviewed at least two Syrians based in Damascus’ countryside who witnessed the recruitment effort for service alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

"Both sources confirmed that lists with potential recruits’ names are being compiled to be presented to the Russian forces stationed in Syria for approval, with the intention of deploying them to Ukraine,” the report noted. Each of the sources requested anonymity for security reasons.

“The first source is a fighter who registered his name with the SG [Syrian government] security services to travel to Ukraine and fight alongside the Russian forces,” the report said. He cited the high cost of living in Syria and a lack of job opportunities as his reasons for deciding to fight in Ukraine.