Syrians are disappearing in Luhansk region – Russians are sending foreign mercenaries into meat grinders, reports Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate
Russia continues to use foreign mercenaries in its war against Ukraine as cannon fodder.
War-torn Syria has become one of the countries where Russia actively recruits men for combat. Mercenaries are promised Russian passports and paid work, but few return.
The treatment of Syrian mercenaries by the Russians is illustrated by the stories of Mohammed Mansour and Waheed Mursal Al-Shibli. They fought against Ukraine as part of the 488th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 114th Motor Rifle Division of the Russian occupation army (unit 12721).
In July 2024, Mansour, as part of a group of 14 Syrian mercenaries, was sent by the Russians to attack near the town of Svatove in Luhansk region. They were hit by Ukrainian fire. The request for evacuation of the wounded was rejected by the Russian invaders, who ordered the Syrians to continue the assault. Mansour, who was injured, disobeyed the Russian order and fled the battlefield. The rest of the mercenary group was defeated – they were listed as missing.
On September 15, 2024, Syrian public sources reported the death of their citizen during the war against Ukraine – villager Waheed Mursal Al-Shibli received a Russian passport and went to assault Ukrainian positions in Luhansk region as part of a group of 7 mercenaries. The group was defeated, Mursal was wounded, and died due to the lack of evacuation. The fate of the other Syrian mercenaries remains unknown.
"Note that Russia has established a scheme with travel agencies to recruit Syrians for the war against Ukraine – initially, the impoverished are offered work as guards in Russian oil provinces, and then lured with higher salaries to participate in 'meat grinder' assaults," message reads.
