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Ukraine’s intelligence services have allegedly begun recruiting fighters from Syrian terrorist groups to bolster its forces in the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to multiple reports circulating in international media. These reports suggest that Ukraine is looking beyond its traditional sources of military support, engaging militant groups in the Middle East to join its fight against Russian forces.
The allegations, yet to be independently verified, claim that Ukrainian intelligence has established covert channels to negotiate the recruitment of fighters from extremist factions that were active in Syria during the country’s civil war. Some of these groups are reported to have been aligned with radical Islamist factions, raising concerns about the nature of foreign assistance being sought by Kyiv in the face of mounting pressure on the battlefield.
This is not the first time that foreign fighters have been linked to the conflict in Ukraine. Reports earlier in the war indicated that Russia had recruited mercenaries from Syria to aid in its offensive, particularly during the early stages of the invasion. Now, if the new claims hold true, Ukraine appears to be following a similar strategy, turning to the same volatile region for reinforcements.
The recruitment of Syrian fighters for the Ukrainian side, according to reports, could be part of a broader strategy by Kyiv to increase its manpower amid prolonged and intense fighting in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukrainian forces have faced challenges in countering Russia’s numerical and firepower superiority, particularly in areas where Russian-backed separatists have entrenched themselves.
Ukrainian officials have not directly responded to the allegations so far, while Russia has seized upon the reports to criticise Ukraine’s military strategy. Moscow has previously accused Kyiv of relying on foreign mercenaries and radical elements in its defence efforts, a claim Kyiv has consistently denied.