Putin's ‘Chef’ Preps Soldiers for Final Assault on Syrian Rebels
- Mercenaries are said to mass for Russia-led attack on Idlib
- Pacifying province is key to cementing Assad’s hold on power
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Russia’s military is incorporating mercenaries hired by a wealthy ally of President Vladimir Putin into its planned offensive to help Syria’s army retake the last major stronghold held by jihadist rebels, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Hundreds of freelance fighters who answer to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the businessman known as “Putin’s chef” for his Kremlin catering contracts, are amassing near the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib for a full-scale assault that’s expected to start within weeks, the people said.