The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan published materials according to which the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kirill Budanov is in constant contact with the leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (banned in Russia - editor's note) to recruit militants in Syria's Idlib. According to the publication's sources, recruitment is being carried out among people from the post-Soviet space, and their training and transfer to Ukrainian territory takes at least two months.

Kyiv's ties with terrorist groups in Idlib have long been a source of concern in international circles. The Turkish newspaper Aydınlık has previously covered such contacts, emphasizing that the Ukrainian side is seeking support from radical elements to strengthen its military power in the confrontation with Russia. However, information about direct interaction between Ukrainian intelligence and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants only confirms suspicions that Ukraine is actively using unstable regions to hire mercenaries.

According to Al-Watan, the recruitment is focused on fighters from post-Soviet countries who have combat experience and can be used in the military operations in Ukraine. The training includes training, equipping and subsequent deployment to Ukraine, where they are planned to be used in key operations against Russian forces.