From a senior military commander in the army of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to an illegal worker who is making a residence in the Sverdlovsk region of Russia, the journey of a man nicknamed "Wolf" is a story of survival, adaptation and the desire to start over from zero.
In an exclusive interview with local news agency 66.RU, the former general - unnamed for safety reasons - said he had no intention of returning to Syria, which is in turmoil after the coup d'etat in late 2024 by extremist groups.
It was betrayal. It can't be called by any other word" - he said about the moment he witnessed his team commanders fleeing the front line in chaos. He was forced to hide his wife and children in a secret place shortly after, then fled with his sister and two grandchildren to Russia's Khmeimim air base in Syria. They were then transferred to Russia.
He studied military in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Petersburg) during the Soviet era, the "Wolves" are no stranger to Russia. His ability to speak Russian helped him adapt quickly, finding a job to support his small family. "I am waiting for documents to be made official in the factory. I am willing to work 10-12 hours a day, he shared. He currently has temporary asylum status and is completing his permanent residence application.
Not only working, he also actively learned Russian to "come a part of society". He affirmed: I no longer consider myself a Syrian. I feel Russian.
With his eyes turned to the future, this man said that what he wanted most was to reunite with his wife and children. I want my children to live like ordinary people in Russia, he said. He believes Syria will be in turmoil for at least another decade, and that is no longer the place he belongs to.
After extremist groups took power in Syria in late 2024, several slaughterings were believed to have targeted the Alawite community - Mr Assad's minority religion - as well as Christian and Druze followers.
In just two weeks, from November 27 to December 8, 2024, half a century of rule of the Assad family in Syria collapsed after rebels swept out of the land they occupied and concentrated on the capital Damascus, taking over each city in just a few days.
Opposition forces swept across the country and entered Damascus with little resistance as the Syrian army collapsed.
President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 24 years after succeeding his father Hafez Assad, fled the country. Russian state media reported that Assad had arrived in Moscow and was granted asylum by Russia.
