Bashar Assad’s advisor Luna al-Shibl: “There’s no need currently for volunteers” for Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Assad regime is publicly distancing itself from provision of Syrian fighters for Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Reports have circulating of recruitment drives by pro-Assad militias and factions such as “ISIS Hunters” and the “Desert Hawks Brigade”. Western intelligence services have said 150 Syrians are with Russian forces.

The US Pentagon said the Kremlin-linked mercenaries of the Wagner Group has been recruiting fighters from Syria, Libya, and other countries, hoping to deploy “a thousand or so” in eastern Ukraine.

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However, with doubts about the capabilities of the fighters and no evidence of a mass mobilization, Assad advisor Luna al-Shibl told BBC Arabic that the regime is not backing the effort.

Al-Shibl claimed many Syrians have volunteered to fight alongside Russian forces. But she continued:

Based on our knowledge of how conditions in the field and how military operations have developed in [Ukraine], there’s no need currently for volunteers.

Russia hasn’t requested Syrian volunteers, formally, from the Syrian state. The Syrian state, therefore, can’t take any official step so long as there is no request from Russia on this.

A regime official denied claims by activist group Syrians for Truth and Justice that the Wagner Group and a partner company in Syria have transported volunteers from Benghazi, Libya to Damascus and then Russia.

Meanwhile, scammers have set up Facebook pages hoping to capitalize on the desire of impoverished Syrians, amid the economic crisis in regime-held areas, to make a livelihood from fighting in Ukraine. One page said volunteers will be paid a monthly salary of 1,500 euros (US$1,657), have all their personal expenses covered, and will receive a 50,000 euro ($55,235) lump sum at the end of service.

The scammers reportedly ask for “broker fees” from would-be fighters.

A member of the pro-Assad “Desert Hawks Brigade” reacted angrily, “There are so many corrupted people who say you will be instantly recruited and sent to Ukraine if you pay them an advance.”

Another fighter with a Russian-backed, pro-Assad militia dismissed the recruitment drive entirely, “To hell with Russia and Ukraine. Here’s my advice, don’t sign up and stay away from the whole thing.”