Barrel bombs on Ukraine: is Russia recruiting specialists from Syria?

Created: 05/23/2022Updated: 05/23/2022 10:56 am

By: Tobias Utz

Russia and Syria are working together in the Ukraine war.

Know-how on cluster bombs is now apparently to be used.

Damascus/Moscow – Experts from Syria for explosives have apparently been in Russia for several weeks.

According to a report by the Guardian, more than 50 experts are exchanging views with experts from Russia.

Specifically, it should be about so-called barrel bombs.

These are explosive devices filled with metal splinters and explosives.

They are considered very destructive due to their scattering effect.

The Syrian military used such bombs in the Syrian war.

The human rights organization Amnesty International reported in 2015 that thousands of people died as a result, including in Aleppo.

"Such collective punishment is a war crime," the NGO said.

As early as March, the USA warned of increased cooperation between the Russian and Syrian armies, in particular due to the possible use of chemical weapons in the Ukraine war.

Ukraine News: Assad sends troops to war

According to the Guardian report, the Russian army's cluster bombs could now be perfected by Syrian specialists.

Cluster munitions were already used by Russia in the Ukraine war.

This is reported, for example, by the NGO “Human Rights Watch”.

Accordingly, it was thrown at schools, residential buildings and hospitals, among other things.

The use of cluster munitions has been internationally banned since 2010.

Since then, there has been an international treaty on their use, storage, trade and production, to which 110 states are officially bound: neither Russia nor Ukraine are part of it.

According to NGO reports, the Ukrainian army has already used cluster munitions.

The Syrian army used barrel bombs in the Syrian war.

The photo shows a follow-up explosion in the north-west of the country in 2019. (Archive photo) © Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets/AP/dpa

According to the Guardian report, the explosives experts sent by Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad are at the head of a total of 1,000 people who have been sent to Russia.

800 of them are said to be soldiers who are under contract with the “Wagner” mercenary group, among others.

This is known for its particularly brutal actions against the civilian population.

Among other things, she acted in Mali – and now in Ukraine.

(do)