A ssad invites his troops to repay a debt to Putin

Syria’s military has begun recruiting troops from its own ranks to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, promising $3,000 a month – a sum up to 50 times a Syrian soldier’s salary.

- Martin Chulov

Enlistment notices have been posted on regime linked websites, including profiles linked to the 4th Division, one of Bashar al-Assad ’s core units. One advert states that troops who sign up will be fighting in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin gave the green light last week for what he claimed would be up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East deploying alongside Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine, as the invasion struggles to maintain momentum.

Russia’s defence ministry said the deployment would be made to the breakaway Donbas region of eastern Ukraine where much of the fighting had been focused.