The number of fighters Russia has recruited and/or already deployed to Ukraine is unclear from available sourcing at this time. Russia is attempting to redeploy Syrian units with experience working under Russian commanders to Ukraine to mitigate high Russian casualties. Russia began a redeployment of Wagner units and their Syrian proxies from Africa and Syria to Ukraine in early February. Reported resistance to Russian recruitment in southern Syria could have caused Russia to reprioritize recruits from the east. 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Source: Washington Post March 31, 2022 17:32 UTC