Muayyad al-Ashkar – Hama
translated by: Jihad Al-Hajj

The long years of war in Syria have led to the emergence of large numbers of armed factions, militias and mercenaries from all sides of the conflict, especially in Hama, because they are on the border between regime-controlled and opposition areas.

 These factions include Russian-backed re units that have fought at certain times alongside the regular Syrian army, and Russia has already begun recruiting these groups last week to engage them in street warfare in Ukraine.

According to information obtained by Hama newspaper today about regular army officers, the Russian group Wagner on the recruitment of fighters had taken the town of Jurin in the Hama countryside as its headquarters.

According to the same source, volunteering is on the basis that those who go will work in security forces and will not fight combat there.

Wagner has already recruited several fighters from former national defense factions and some elements who were demobilized from the regular army early last year.

Anas, a resident of The Shathah town near Camp Jurin, told Hama today that officers from the Russian camp in Jurin announced the start of recruiting young people in the village early last week in exchange for money starting at $500 and up to $3,000, according to experience and rank.

Anas adds that volunteers receive an advance of $1,500 before going to join the camp in preparation for their transfer to Russia and from there to Ukraine via Tartous.

According to Hama today’ sources, names applying to volunteer for the Russian camp are subject to security study by Syrian intelligence and the names are then submitted to Russian forces for final approval.

Media names loyal to the Syrian regime had already announced the deaths of people in Donbas, whom they described as doing their duty in Donbas, Ukraine.

According to residents of the area there in Goren, recent days have seen a high demand for volunteering after the advance was raised to $3,000 for all volunteers, with salaries different depending on competence and experience after they went to Ukraine.