The Russian war on Ukraine is developing more complex by the day, with reports emerging of millions of displaced people, thousands of deaths, and foreign soldiers joining the offense and the defense.
According to Washington Post, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a news conference that nearly 20,000 volunteers from 52 different countries have joined Ukraine’s defensive forces.
From its side, Russia has been also recruiting foreign soldiers and militants, reportedly from Syria, where it has had a major military role supporting the Assad regime since 2015.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned last week that he had already received “more than 16,000 applications” from fighters in the Middle East.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted a detailed update on its official FB page on Thursday, including a statement that reads:
“According to available information, the Russian occupiers have already picked up close to 1,000 volunteers from the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah.”
Sources to 961 revealed being offered between $700-$1,000 per month to fight for Russia.
The Russian-Ukrainian war, which was assumed to end in a few days, is now expanding with the involvement of foreign militants from different countries.