Syrian mercenaries consider participation in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia as an opportunity to migrate to EU countries, the press service of the Defense Intelligence Agency of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said.

"The command of Khmeimim Air Base operated by Russia was instructed to send up to 300 militants to Ukraine daily. On March 15, 150 mercenaries were sent from Khmeimim Air Base to Russia to participate in hostilities against Ukraine," the Defense Intelligence Agency said.

The agency said there are plans to transfer weapons, military equipment and other resources from Syria to Russia and Belarus to provide for the Russian occupation forces. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised to provide Russia with 40,000 fighters for the war in Ukraine.

"During recruitment, mercenaries are promised that they will perform exclusively police functions to restore order in the occupied territories, that is, purely police functions. But recently, information has begun to spread among mercenaries about direct participation in hostilities against the Ukrainian army. This has significantly reduced the fighting spirit of the Syrians," the agency said.

They add that recently more than 30 fighters injured in hostilities in Ukraine arrived at Khmeimim Air Base from Russia.

"This had a negative impact on the moral and psychological state of other mercenaries and led to the refusal of some of them to participate in hostilities. Among the Syrian militants, there were even cases of self-mutilation. Some of the mercenaries consider being sent to Russia and Belarus as a chance to illegally migrate to EU countries," the agency said.