The Guardian: Russia is deploying 20,000 Syrian, Libyan and Wagner Group mercenaries in Donbass

The official, speaking to reporters at a briefing in Washington on condition of anonymity, said it was difficult to analyze the number of mercenaries by each country but noted that all of them were hired by the company. Wagner Group private military, The Guardian reported.

“What I can tell you is that we have seen some people move from areas like Syria and Libya to the eastern Donbas region and these people are mainly used as a major force against the invasion. Ukraine’s resistance,” the official said.

“In terms of their capabilities, it’s infantry. They don’t have any heavy vehicles and weapons,” the official said.

Russia has previously deployed Syrian troops in Ukraine, but in smaller numbers. On March 31, several hundred Syrian mercenaries arrived in the country, including soldiers from an army division working with Russian officers supporting the regime of Syrian President Assad, The New York Times reported. believe.

Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said about 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East had registered to fight in Ukraine. Around the same time, Ukrainian intelligence suggested that Russia signed an agreement with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to recruit mercenaries, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The Wagner Group, which has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has assisted Moscow in transporting troops to Ukraine, according to The Guardian.

The sharp increase in the deployment of mercenaries comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Moscow had launched a new offensive in the Donbass region.

According to Politico, the morale of Russian soldiers is also declining as the fighting continues, while Ukrainian soldiers have been encouraged after the sinking of the Russian warship “Moskva”.

On April 18, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said US intelligence indicates that Russia is preparing for more active operations in eastern Ukraine and has increased its military in the region with about 10 battle groups.