Putin approves Russian use of Middle East fighters against Ukraine

[speak easy]

Source: The Guardian

Vladimir Putin has given the green light for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels fighting in Ukraine, doubling down on an invasion that the west says has been losing momentum.

The move, just over two weeks after Putin ordered the invasion, allows Russia to deploy battle-hardened mercenaries from conflicts such as Syria without risking additional Russian military casualties.

At a meeting of Russia’s security council, the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said there were 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who were ready to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Putin said: “If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbas, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/putin-approves-russian-use-of-middle-east-fighters-against-ukraine

[nycbos]

1. IF things were going well Vlad wouldn't be relying on mercenaries

[Grins]

40. Wait until they find themselves in front ranks with Russians right behind them..

…ready to kill them if they fall back or fail to advance. For the Russian army, that wouldn’t be a new tactic.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Another word for a slave army.

Poot-face certainly can't pay them in rubles.

[mitch96]

9. This is payback for helping Syria. You drop bombs someone has got to pay the bill...nt

[Evolve Dammit]

3. Then we need to do the same in response. That's a lot of battle-hardened mercenaries

[Wicked Blue]

15. They've never fought in snow before

That's a weakness that could be used against them

[EX500rider]

45. Nor have they fought a modern equipped motivated army on it's home ground

I think they will get torn up and spit out. And the Ukrainian's may not be real picky about taking foreign fighters prisoner either.

[turbinetree]

4. Okay stupid question and I already know the answer........but if the psychopath is doing this

and Ukraine is asking for help with let's say fighters and other means......this is not a one sided thing.....where he can do what ever he wants and Ukraine can't.....something is really wrong with this picture.....

[Beastly Boy]

5. Another genius move by the incompetent Putin

Foreign Muslim forces fighting for Putin against his professed "blood brothers" in Ukraine.

All those years of propaganda about unifying Russia and Ukraine on the ethnic and religious grounds down the drain!

BTW, are these "volunteers" aware how cold Ukraine gets in the spring? The invading nazis didn't. And Berlin ain't exactly Damascus.

[Lovie777]

6. They will be there to kill "Christians"? . ....

WOW

[mitch96]

8. kill "Christians"?.. I wonder how this is gonna play out on Faux noise and christian right? nt

[Aviation Pro]

12. Hmmm, just wait until the first Instagram or TikTok post

Where these mutts call the Ukrainians infidels.

That'll make the Bloated Ticks' heads explode.

[Igel]

47. Don't agree with the post.

No clue.

But many of those most opposed to the Shi'ite Assad were Sunnis, and of those a large percentage were "extremists".

Don't know this is an issue.

Thoughts.

This is partially a response to the Ukr neglegible Nigerian onslaught.

Second, "up" to is a weasel word. He could have authorized "up to 2 trillion". "Up to 16k" doesn't mean "16k are on trains on the way to kill Ukr soldiers."

Third, it's viewed as a defeat. These are fighters presumably with urban combat experience lacking in Russian soldiers. Yes, partially a threat of urban combat and invasion of n.s. (naselyonnye punkty, population centers). But also saying, "Gee, our most excellently trained kids can't do this. Let's outsource!&quot

[Aviation Pro]

7. Hmmm, mercenary force that doesn't know the terrain....

....I see an army of soon to be dead.

[onetexan]

10. Precisely, mercenaries disguised as volunteers

[Hugin]

21. "... who want of their own accord, not for money..."

I’m glad you read that the way I did. I guess I’m not losing my touch at deciphering bullshit-speak.

[Igel]

48. It's a people tax.

"We helped you. We help you. Want that to continue? Cough up meat to help us!"

[IronLionZion]

34. And it sounds like fewer Russians want to do it

so it's sounds like a cannon fodder type of mission.

[Alien Life Form]

11. an yet this administration is

hung up on supplying Polish jets to the Ukrainians.. I think Biden needs to do just that..,.and I am not happy he hasn't.. Those jets are needed to kill those artillery pieces shelling the cities.. Putin aka Hitler needs to be stopped!

[Aviation Pro]

13. The MiG 29 is not the platform they need in this war

And transferring them through Ramstein all but guarantees an escalation drawing our forces in.

Stingers and lots of them are working well at the moment.

[mitch96]

16. "Stingers and lots of them are working well at the moment" Mobile AAA and mobile SAM's

would help also. Russian New old stock from Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia could be snuck across the border if any are left.
m

[Aviation Pro]

22. Without the associated radar platforms that might be a stretch

And Class V resupply and parts would be a problem. MANPADS are probably more reliable.

[mitch96]

24. Every little bit helps. SAM's can reach out and touch someone a bit further and your right

about the resupply and maintenance...
m

[Igel]

49. "Could." n/t

[mitch96]

50. Could what?..nt

[Alien Life Form]

35. So why is transferring them through Ramstein guarantee and escalation but

sending other weapons from elsewhere does not? I mean the Rooskies know that the weapons they have received didn't just materialize out of thin air

[Aviation Pro]

43. There's probably a chain of custody that separates the U.S.

From delivery to Ukraine. There are End User Certificates, Letters of Request and everything is subject to export control and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) procedures. It’ll give you a headache if you dive to deeply into that world.

So a direct transfer from the U.S. to Ukraine through a German airbase is not in anyone’s best interest.

[Jazz Jon]

14. Verified?

I have to question how much truth there is to this claim that there are 16000 volunteers on the way to help Russia. This exactly matches the number of foreign volunteers that Ukraine has claimed are in service in Ukraine. I can't imagine that many people volunteering.

[mitch96]

18. "I can't imagine that many people volunteering." Volunteering at the barrel of a gun...

I remember at my pre induction physical the Sargent told every third man to step forward.
The then said "congratulations men, you just volunteered for the US Marine Corp"..uff
m

[BeyondGeography]

19. Good catch

Foreigners lining up to fight for Ukraine has obviously stung Putler.

[BeyondGeography]

17. Is this part of the Russian Renaissance?

[mitch96]

20. putin does not want an insurrection at home when the lists of the dead make it back...

Better to kill Georgians, Chechens and Syrians than Russians.. da?
m

[Lonestarblue]

23. Well, gee, Eric Prince has an army of mercenaries that goes around the world.

Perhaps he should have some loyalty to free countries and volunteer his mercenaries to fight for Ukraine. He’s certainly rich enough to pay them well. And they know how to use modern US weapons. I know—won’t happen. He’s more likely to support Putin.

[patphil]

25. NATO isn't allowed to interfer, but Putin can bring in 16,000 merc's.

It's time we stopped playing by Putin's rules.

[BlueIdaho]

26. THIS!

I completely understand why NATO countries don’t want to escalate their response but it’s time to call BS on Putin’s tantrums. Maybe it’s time to take the skies away from Russia and say to hell with his threats.

[Kaleva]

27. There are about 20k who have volunteered to fight for Ukraine.

"20,000 foreign volunteers have signed up to fight in Ukraine: officials"

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/20k-foreign-volunteers-signed-up-to-fight-in-ukraine-officials/

[Alien Life Form]

36. Good Point

Putin doesnt fear us ..why should we fear him?

[karynnj]

28. This step completely destroys Russia's lie for invading

These mercenaries will be neither Russian or Ukrainian. They will be foreign mercenaries. There is no question that they are brutal, but it is hard to say that the Russian forces have been less brutal. What is clear is that Ukraine is a tougher fight than Russia ever expected. (One question is with the ruble near worthless, can they actually pay mercenaries?)

In addition, I question the oft repeated CW that they are highly skilled at urban warfare due to there years fighting in Syria. Consider that Syria and Russia held all the top cards in that fight. Russia had a long term base granted by Syria and the Assad family had an authoritarian government there for many decades. The US made it clear at least as early as 2014 that they would not enter a civil war in Syria. (The US had a very tricky, difficult job fighting ISIS with NATO, Iraq and the Kurds as allies - but also deconflicting with Syria, Russia and Iran who also were against ISIS.)

These mercenaries were attempting to end an insurgency without planes. In addition, the insurgency was fractured with various pieces fighting each other and other allied only due to common opposition to Assad.

Given that, the thing they were most known for was war crimes and brutal attacks on rebel held cities. This conflict is nearing an endgame - a dozen years after it started - and Russia's mercenaries had both wins and loses in Syria and Libya.

[Throck]

29. Machiavelli; The Prince

https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Niccol%C3%B2-Machiavelli/dp/B08WZHBPW6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?hvadid=78546489411865&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=the+prince+machiavelli&qid=1647008700&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUEIwRkJIVkxESVNHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzE2Njc2MVZVNFFXWllYWVZJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NTk1MTIzUjlSOTNZN1NFVUFCJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

As a class project in high school we read "The Prince". Putin is making every mistake Machiavelli warned against.

Additionally according to Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"; Putin is failing miserably at leadership as well as all his generals in his current invasion.

[Alien Life Form]

37. That link references a book

Can you post a few examples?
Thanks

[BidenRocks]

30. BYOBB

Bring your own body bags!
Oh, don't forget your arctic gear!

[IronLionZion]

31. Why not get the whole world involved, like a world war.

or Putin could just cut his losses and leave.

[Jazz Jon]

32. Verify it.

Big media is running this story, but notice that there is no verification and no details.

16k volunteers in one day? A number which very serendipitously matches the number of foreign volunteers that Ukraine claims to have now " in country"?

So you're a peasant in the middle east. You can barely feed your amily. A Russian recruiter comes along and says we've got a deal for you! Stop trying to support your family, and come instead to die for us for no pay

I believe that there is such a recruiting effort, but I also don't think we will see those 16k show up to help Russia anytime soon.

[speak easy]

42. Carried by the BBC.

Unless otherwise stated, verified.

[usajumpedtheshark]

33. "Not for money" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

[Captain Zero]

38. Mercenaries. Maybe we could just pay them more to go home?

Put them on a plane and drop them off back home with their pockets full of money.

[Grins]

39. The bullshit: "of their own accord, NOT FOR MONEY"

Translation:

“Not for money”: Our money is worthless anyway.
Come die for us.

Why would any Middle East fighter sign up for that?

[Grins]

41. That would leave al-Assad vulnerable. So hit him!

Each action has a counter-action. You apply pressure here, I supply pressure there.

It’s the Harry Callahan wager: You've got to ask yourself a question: 'do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?

That will get al-Assad AND Putin’s attention.

[Wuddles440]

44. Yes!

And wouldn't it be nice to have the resistance in Chechnya resurrected and Georgia given increased consideration for entry into the EU/NATO? Along with economic issues, Putin needs to be overwhelmed with trying to address multiple threats. Also for the most easy logistics, fighters from Syria would need to cross through airspace and sea routes controlled by Turkey and Erdogan needs to be pressured to prohibit such transit through its territory.

[Emile]

46. Good thing they are volunteers, Putin has no money to pay them.

[SpankMe]

51. So, he can use foreign fighters, but Ukraine can't?

What kind of B.S. are we tolerating here?