Peskov: network of Russian Defense Ministry divisions working directly with citizens of Syria, other countries willing to go to Donbas

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The Kremlin has clarified how volunteers from countries of the Middle East are informing Russia that they want to take part in fighting on the side of the Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics.

"The Defense Ministry has a certain network of divisions working directly with the local population of Syria and a number of other countries," Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier at the president's meeting with members of the Russian Security Council that the Defense Ministry has received more than 16,000 applications from volunteers from Middle East countries willing to participate in fighting on the side of the DPR and the LPR.