Over 16,000 volunteers ready to come to DPR, LPR from Middle East - Shoigu

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - Over 16,000 volunteers from Middle East countries have expressed their readiness to fight for the Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

"We are receiving a colossal number of applications from various kinds of volunteers from various countries willing to go to the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics and to join what they call a liberation movement. The largest number comes from Middle East countries, we have received over 16,000 applications," Shoigu said at a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

"Of course, we believe it is right to give an affirmative response to the application, especially, as these people do not want money but speak from their heart," he said.

Many of these volunteers have been helping fight ISIL, a terrorist organization banned in Russia, over the past decade, Shoigu said.