Ukraine seeks to open new front against Russia – in Syria

Alameen Templeton

The American roots of “jihadis” in northern Syria are showing themselves again, as Ukraine swaps drones and technology for mercenaries – preferably of Uyghurs and Chechens – to use in its war with Russia.
Syrian sources are saying it seems the US wants to open up a new “front” in Syria to exert more pressure on Russian resources that are being bled away in Ukraine.
It’s reportedly hoped Moscow will have to divert crucial war supplies from Ukraine to Syria if it wants to continue supporting Damascus in its continuing war with US-backed “jihadis”.
Sputnik reports Syrian opposition sources say Kiev has provided a shipment of drones to the umbrella Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, in exchange for experienced mercenaries.
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham previously received drones from the Ukrainian side in exchange for the transfer of experienced militants and leaders from the group,” the source revealed.
Ukraine is also providing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham with instructors to train its fighters in the practical use of drone technology.
Sputnik reported Monday a group of 250 instructors of the Ukrainian army had arrived in the Idlib province in northern Syria to train Hayat Tahrir al-Sham “in the production and modernization of drones”.
“There is confirmed information that the number of Ukrainian instructors who have already arrived in Idlib has reached 250 people. They have been distributed among production facilities in the city of Idlib and in the Jisir al-Shughur region,” a source told Sputnik. He said the instructors were training in the production and modernization of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The source said more than 250 drones were delivered to HTS in Idlib in batches disguised as “components” included among civilian goods.
Syrian newspaper Al Watan cited sources as saying that the head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, is in constant contact with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
It said the recruitment, preparation and transfer of HTS mercenaries to Ukraine has been going on for at least two months.
The source told Sputnik: “A group of Ukrainian intelligence officials visited Idlib several times more than a month ago to coordinate and plan strikes against Russian forces after debugging new technologies [of drone production]. Ukrainians and Americans are transferring battles from Ukraine to Syria in order to open a new front against Russian forces in Syria.”