Russia Signs 40,000 Syrian, Militia Fighters To Deploy In Ukraine; Offers Them $1,100

Tens of thousands of Syrians have allegedly signed up to fight in Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

More than 40,000 fighters from the Syrian army as well as its allied militias have registered to fight in the Ukraine-Russian war, France24 reported, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Around 22,000 of the fighters were approved by Russian officers who were part of a force Moscow sent to Syria in 2015 to support the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to SOHR head Rami Abdulrahman.

Another 18,000 men reportedly registered with Syria's ruling Baath party and will be screened by the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor with links to the Kremlin, the Observatory reported.

The fighters were to be put on standby for deployment in Ukraine. None have been confirmed to have left for the country thus far, according to SOHR.

Russian officers reportedly set up registration offices in areas held by the regime of President al-Assad in coordination with Syria's military and allied militia to recruit those who acquired combat experience during the country's 11-year-old civil war.

Some of the Syrian army recruits were allegedly from the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, once known as the “Tiger Forces,” as well as the Russian-run 5th Division.

The soldiers, who would usually earn between $15 and $35 a month in their home country, were promised a salary of $1,100 to fight in Ukraine, the SOHR was cited as saying in another France24 report.

Additionally, they are entitled to $7,700 in compensation for injuries, while their families will receive $16,500 if they are killed in combat.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russia's recruitment, saying the country was "hiring murderers."

However, a Syrian government representative denied the recruitment drive.

Russia's forces allegedly no longer have any reserves left as the 150,000-strong force that was initially deployed at the Ukrainian border prior to the Feb. 24 invasion is now fully inside the country, according to experts.

"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] needs more troops than he thought he would. And he needs irregular troops because this war is becoming insurrectional," a Western security source said.

Russia "now needs massive reinforcements in terms of equipment and troops" to continue the war after its forces failed to seize Ukraine quickly, said Mathieu Boulegue, a research fellow specializing in Russia at the think tank Chatham House.