Slavonic Corps
| Slavonic Corps | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
| Active | October 2013 |
| Headquarters | Lattakia |
| Area of operations | Deir ez-Zor Governorate |
| Size | 267 (October 2013) |
| Allies |
 Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force
|
| Opponents |
 Free Syrian Army Al-Nusra Front
|
| Battles and wars | |
The Slavonic Corps (Russian: Славянский Корпус) is a Hong Kong registered,private military contractor that operated during the Syrian Civil War.
In the spring of 2013, job ads by a Hong Kong-based company emerged on various Russian military related websites. The ads promised 5,000 USD per month for guard duties protecting Syrian energy facilities during the Syrian Civil War. The ads attracted the attention of former members of OMON, SOBR, VDV and Spetsnaz; many of them had previous military experience in the Tajikistani Civil War as well as the Second Chechen War.
After initially traveling to Beirut, Lebanon, the mercenaries were first transferred to Damascus, Syria and then to a Syrian army base in Latakia. By October, the Slavonic Corps had a strength of 267 contractors divided into two companies that were present in Latakia.
The contractors were provided with outdated equipment which raised concerns among the participants. They soon realized that the FSB and the Syrian government had no involvement with the operation. Those wishing to return to Russia were left with no choice but to earn their ticket back through direct participation in the Syrian Civil War. The new goal of the Slavonic Corps was described as guarding the oil fields of Deir ez-Zor. Instead of the promised T-72s, the contractors were provided with metal plate covered buses. On their way to Deir ez-Zor, the column encountered a Syrian air force helicopter which collided with a transmission line and crashed into the caravan, injuring one of the contractors.
...
Wikipedia