Russian officials are looking to hire Syrian soldiers to fight in Ukraine as fighting in and around major cities intensifies, according to The Wall Street Journal.
US officials told the Journal that Moscow is specifically recruiting Syrian fighters for their urban combat experience.
Troops loyal to Russian-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been fighting bitterly in urban centers for nearly a decade, giving them skills that are hard to find among Russian troops.
One official said that while it is not clear how many Syrian fighters will join the battle, some are already in Russia and preparing to enter the conflict, according to the Journal.
The involvement of Syrian troops further internationalizes the war, which began with the Russian invasion on February 24th.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that more than 16,000 foreign fighters had volunteered to defend the country, calling it an “international legion”.
Russia’s war with its neighbor has led to a series of international sanctions against Moscow, but the US and its NATO allies have shown no interest in participating directly in the war.
The US has provided more than $1 billion in aid to Ukraine’s armed forces over the past year and has pledged more aid as Russia continues its week-long war against the country.
The UN Refugee Agency said on Thursday that more than a million Ukrainian citizens have fled the country since the invasion.