By Josh Rogin, columnist
To the right (click here) are the children of Mariupol underground for protection.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) expands his murderous attacks on civilians across Ukraine, regular citizens are becoming front-line troops. Syrians, who have been facing Russian military attacks for seven years, are ready to help Ukrainians organize their first responders. Ukrainians will need all the help they can get to save as many innocent lives as possible in what could be a long struggle.
Since 2015, when Putin dispatched his troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad maintain his hold on power, the Russian military has been attacking civilians in opposition-held areas, reportedly committing war crimes on a regular basis by targeting hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. Those tactics are now being used in several Ukrainian cities, complete with attacks on fleeing families and credible reports of illegal weapons such as cluster bombs. Last week, the International Criminal Court said it would “immediately proceed” with an investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
The Syrian Civil Defense force, known as the White Helmets, has been working to rescue, evacuate and give emergency care to civilians under attack since 2014. The all-volunteer force says it has saved more than 100,000 civilian lives and that at least 252 of its members have been killed in the process. Now, the White Helmets are turning their attention to Putin’s latest victims...
It is a complicated battle field. Ukraine should allow asylum requests for those that oppose the brutality of the war Putin has begun. Ukraine states 11,000 Russian soldiers have died. That is about 6 percent of the 190,000 troops estimated to have been at Ukraine's borders before the invasion Putin ordered. There are burnt and blown up Russian tanks (see left).
Wladimir Klitschko wears many hats, a boxing star, mayor of Kyiv, soldier to the Ukraine military and now father to 82 babies born since the invasion started (click here).
March 7, 2022
By Greg Myre
The Pentagon (click here) said Monday it believes that Russia is now trying to recruit Syrian fighters to bolster the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the story Sunday, saying Russia is seeking Syrians who have taken part in urban combat and could help Russia take control of cities such as Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
"The accounts of the Russians seeking Syrian fighters, to augment their forces in Ukraine, we do believe there's truth to that," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters. "It's interesting that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would have to rely on foreign fighters."
Kirby said he had no information on the numbers or the caliber of the Syrian fighters that the Russians are trying to sign up.
Russia has not commented on the reports....
As Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) expands his murderous attacks on civilians across Ukraine, regular citizens are becoming front-line troops. Syrians, who have been facing Russian military attacks for seven years, are ready to help Ukrainians organize their first responders. Ukrainians will need all the help they can get to save as many innocent lives as possible in what could be a long struggle.
Since 2015, when Putin dispatched his troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad maintain his hold on power, the Russian military has been attacking civilians in opposition-held areas, reportedly committing war crimes on a regular basis by targeting hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. Those tactics are now being used in several Ukrainian cities, complete with attacks on fleeing families and credible reports of illegal weapons such as cluster bombs. Last week, the International Criminal Court said it would “immediately proceed” with an investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
The Syrian Civil Defense force, known as the White Helmets, has been working to rescue, evacuate and give emergency care to civilians under attack since 2014. The all-volunteer force says it has saved more than 100,000 civilian lives and that at least 252 of its members have been killed in the process. Now, the White Helmets are turning their attention to Putin’s latest victims...
There are yellow buses with a red cross on the side arriving in Mariupol, but, the convoy of buses are coming under fire (click here). This is Assad tactics. We know where it came from now.
By Greg Myre
The Pentagon (click here) said Monday it believes that Russia is now trying to recruit Syrian fighters to bolster the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the story Sunday, saying Russia is seeking Syrians who have taken part in urban combat and could help Russia take control of cities such as Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
"The accounts of the Russians seeking Syrian fighters, to augment their forces in Ukraine, we do believe there's truth to that," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters. "It's interesting that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would have to rely on foreign fighters."
Kirby said he had no information on the numbers or the caliber of the Syrian fighters that the Russians are trying to sign up.
Russia has not commented on the reports....
