Syrians say recruiter sent them to die in Ukraine
A young Syrian man has described how he was lured into Russia’s war in Ukraine by a recruiter who later burned his passport after he refused to pay to stay out of combat. Omar, 26, says he was recruited by Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh, a Russian woman who runs a Telegram channel offering foreign men contracts with the Russian military. Speaking to the BBC under a false name for his safety, Omar said he was promised safe, well-paid work and even Russian citizenship, but instead found himself fighting on the front line with minimal training. In a video sent to Omar, flames can be seen consuming his Syrian passport while a woman’s voice in Russian says, “It’s burning well.” Omar says the voice belongs to Azarnykh, who became angry after he refused to pay her $3,000, money she had allegedly demanded […]
