On October 5, Arabi Today news website released a story providing some details how the two Russians were captured by ISIS on September 29. The info was allegedly provided to the website by a soldier of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
The captured Russians were private military contractors [PMCs] or volunteers operating on the side of Damascus government, according to different sources.
Roman Zabolotniy (born – 1979) and Grigory Surkanov (born – 1978) in a video released by the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq:
The SAA soldier claimed that he was a member of SAA unit that was moving to al-Shula village via the Al-Sukhnah-Deir Ezzor highway. The unit was allegedly supported by 10 Russian PMCs to carry out an unspecified operation against ISIS.
The soldier said that they were in 2 military vehicles and 2 buses on the highway when ISIS fighters started shelling them with heavy machine guns from the south of the highway. Later around 30 ISIS fighters attacked the buses from the north of the highway. The both buses were destroyed and blocked the highway according to the soldier.
After this the remaining SAA soldiers tried to repelled the ISIS attack supported by the 10 PMC fighters that, according to the soldier, “instead of withdrawing and leaving us alone to fight, they took a position behind a bream on the side of the road and engaged in the clashes against ISIS“.
The SAA soldier said that the clashes with ISIS was not fair as there was over 80 ISIS fighters involved in the attack against the pro-government fighters.
“After this we run out of ammo, and the Russian fighters too apparently because I didn’t hear any more shoots from the position where they were. After minutes I heard screams, it seems that there was a fight with cold weapons. However, it looks like the number difference was not on the side of the Russian fighters,” the SAA soldier said according to Arabi Today.
The SAA soldier said that he owes his life to the PMC fighters. He added that he doesn’t believe that he would have survived it was not for their sacrifice.
The story includes some statements that could be true, like the place and the time of the ISIS ambush. However, it’s still almost impossible to verify and confirm this story as Arabi Today didn’t provide the name of the SAA soldier.
Well, should ISIS dispatch them, even perhaps in a CIA-inspired celebratory video of such, then its simple, do same to a whole bunch of ISIS scum. No, wait. Western human rights would be up in arms should such be done to any ISIS captives, and might inspire a NATO attack on pro-Assad forces.
No, the Syrians are better than the US head-chopping, heart-eating rapers, they show that by not behaving like Washington barbarians.
“The unit was allegedly supported by 10 Russian PMCs to carry out an unspecified operation against ISIS“. Why do they not have air support when they get in action? Just a helicopter in alert state is enough
very stretched front right now. they are dealing with ISIS everywhere. the amount of Russian airplanes and helis is very limited for this type of war.
Blame the Russian air command they are starting run it too thin as they should know better with over extending air power. They need start getting the SyAAF some damn aircraft instead and training more pilots instead of talking a cheap game.
And how come ISIS didn’t kill them all then if they were winning and SAA was out of ammo? Sounds impossible that anyone would have survived. And if he could have then idk how if their vehicles were disabled, how would they be able to escape back into safe areas from in the middle of the highway in the middle of the desert.
maybe they took the vehicles that were operational and left the russians behind alone…so they try to tell us that the pmc were heroes etc.
So…………
How did the SAA soldier survive and escape?
That’s more interesting at this point as he would have to miracle his way out of there… Sounds like a double spy to me…
‘How did the SAA soldier survive and escape?’
Fucken cowards. One Russian assault division would be able to close the whole deal with ISIS, while diplomacy is diplomacy…
YOU sound like an idiot to me. Were you there?
Are you actually reading the article or just picking certain bits? it clearly says that the SAA soldier said the Russians should have retreated and let them take up the fight, but instead the Russians started to engage ISIS as well but near the SAA positions, everyone ran out of ammo and the SAA retreated, but the PMS did not when they should have as well.
The US is providing logistics to ISIS. The collusion and support of the US, UK and other NATO countries is crystal clear. It is not a coincidence that most ISIS so called volunteers also come from the same countries.
The so called volunteers…that nice telly man was in Dagestan which is within Russia I think and next to the notorious Chechnya and had the number 4,000 ISIS volunteers from that ‘republic’ and this information I find broadly in line with other indications i.e. I think you incorrect about where the so called volunteers come from, specifically not large numbers from USA or UK. Think about it. USA helps ISIS. ISIS troopers come from Russian Caucasus and go home later trained in jihadi warfare. Russia suffers. Whole affair of Syria Iraq Iran is pretty close to Russia. I have read information that France sends quite a few fighters to ISIS this makes sense to me all those frustrated Tunisians and Algerians in suburban ghettoes decorated with laundry.
Fuckin bastard. Less then 170 Algerians went to Syria… Dont confond Algeria, and rest of arab world. What the fuck you know about this country ? Have you been there ? Believe me Algerians are heavily less frustrated than yankee bitches, starting with your teen-mentality president, particularly toward Russians…
Dear Ahmed That is interesting you obviously know more than me about who has has gone to ISIS which is not surprising as I know little except an Iraqi officer was on telly saying they had killed many with French passports and the Russians keep reporting a lot of people gone from the old USSR southern republics. I spent a full year in France thirty years ago and hung out with some kids of Algerian background and got invited home and stuff and I was guessing from my observations then that France might have a huge pool of ‘Maghrebians’ ready to fight for something. I apologise for offence but I humbly suggest you take the word ‘frustrated’ in a ..wrong..way. If there’s not much opportunity maybe frustration can arise and no reference to sex lives was intended. I have no interest in pushing any point of view so do not trouble yourself on that account. I come to learn only I have an enquiring mind. My first post was prompted by the expression ‘so called volunteers’ used by a previous poster as i couldn’t guess how a ‘volunteer’ becomes a ‘so called volunteer’ which implies not being a volunteer. I am not American and my contribution overall suggests we are much on the same side about it being better if Western powers did not interfere and destabilise stable countries. You rightly say, I am not in a position to pontificate about French citizens of Algerian or Morrocan or Tunisian descent and I shall be careful not to nor to describe the suburbs like I did. I hope you will look again at what i wrote and be much less offended. For my part, our conversation gives me respect for Algerians and their use of American idiomatic language. Martin.x
10th October Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov said that last night Russian forces detected a fortified ISIS stronghold near Mayadin city on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.
“The facility included a stockpile of artillery and tank ammunition and a large network of underground tunnels accommodating a large group of terrorists – natives of Asian republics of the CIS and Algeria,” he said.
Hmm. No numbers but certainly an implication that the Russian command might be travestying reality, history and everything they not happy with and unfairly picking on Algeria if only 170 Algerians went to Syria, and the Russians claim 50,000 terrorist kills
Long live our Russian fighters and a shame to their SAA pupils. I am not a supporter of Putin, while the life is life, and the war is war, and the death in fighting is a good death for a volunteer. Sometimes the fortune is not a peace of cake… Unfortunately, two our guys were captured. It was their fate. I hope Russian military bosses will try to exchange them …while not sure. Yes, they are mercenaries…one of them was an army cook, the second was professional fighter. I am sure that Vagner group will take revenge on the islamistic beasts. Death to all ISIS – expect no mercy.
Russia needs to take the gloves off an destroy these ISIS scum.
I think this Syrian unit who was there simply escaped and abandoned them alone because of lack of weapon and courage. A lot of Syrian soldiers are young, new fighters without long experience and adequate complete preparation. SAA lost a lot of mens this last 6 years.
Are you people actually reading the article or just picking certain bits? it clearly says that the SAA soldier said the Russians should have retreated and let them take up the fight ( as stated in bold letters), but instead the Russians started to engage ISIS as well but near the SAA positions, everyone ran out of ammo and the SAA retreated, but the PMS did not when they should have as well.
God bless both the PMC and SAA.
Read my reply to Memadmax.