Mercenaries of the army of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah may take part in Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the side of Moscow, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which said some of the fighters are experienced.

"The command of the armed forces of the Russian Federation continues to take measures to make up for the loss of personnel at the expense of foreigners. According to available information, about 1,000 volunteers from representatives of the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah have already been selected," the General Staff said on Facebook on Friday night.

The main requirement for foreign fighters is the experience of fighting in the city. At the same time, according to available information, the mercenaries also seek to illegally migrate to EU member states.

The General Staff said the enemy did not carry out offensive actions in the Volyn direction on March 17. Russian forces continued to fortify the Ukraine-Belarus border, the report said, noting the high possibility of provocations by the special services of the Russian Federation.

The enemy did not carry out active offensive operations in the Polissia direction. Instead, the invaders maintained the previously occupied lines and carrying out preparations for a possible attack on Kyiv. Losses inflicted on the occupiers by the Ukrainian defenders, the low moral and psychological state of the rank and file and the lack of experienced commanders of tactical units make it impossible to resume offensive operations in the near future, the General Staff said.

In the Siversk direction, the enemy is trying to hold on to certain lines, restore the combat capability of units and replenish supplies. The invaders continue to partially block the city of Chernihiv and carry out artillery shelling of the city.

In the direction of Brovary, the enemy did not carry out active hostilities. Near the city of Brovary, Russian troops periodically carry out artillery shelling of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the Slobozhanske direction, in order to restore offensive operations against the cities of Sumy and Kharkiv, the occupiers are trying to replenish stocks of ammunition and fuel and lubricants and are forced to prematurely use the accumulated human reserves. In the direction of Izium, the enemy is trying to resume offensive operations.

In the Luhansk and Donetsk directions, the main efforts of the enemy concentrated on preparing for an offensive on Severodonetsk and the encirclement of Mariupol.

In the Pivdennobuzhsky direction, the enemy did not take active actions, but instead attempted to regroup and resupply.

"Russian invasion forces are not abandoning their attempts to identify and destroy the air defense system along the Black Sea coast. The enemy is trying to carry out demonstration actions in the Black Sea," the General Staff said.