Janet Jalil

Guys, I am grateful to you for signing the contract.

I want to say thank you to the Syrians who believed in me, who want to fight for Russia.

The investigation has uncovered a recruitment network centered on one Russian woman, Polina Alexandrovna Azarnekh, a 40-year-old former teacher and businesswoman.

She posts Telegram videos daily with a welcoming smile and loud music in the background.

She's the woman who recruited Omar.

With 14 years of brutal civil war in Syria, he was the sole breadwinner for his family and had to seek opportunities outside.

A one-year contract with Russia's Ministry of Defense, promising Russian citizenship, $5,000 up front, and crucially, she promised them non-combat roles if they gave her a $3,000 cut.

But that promise wasn't kept.

Omar told BBC Eye that he and others had been deceived by Polina and he wouldn't pay her the money she was demanding for her cut.

In response to his accusations, she sent a video.

Do you recognise your passport?

The I-team have traced 12 families whose sons were recruited by Polina.

All of them are now either dead or missing.

Can I speak to Polina, please?

There were numerous attempts to speak to Polina.

At one stage, she answered.

So my first question is, I've spoken to recruits who say that you promised them non-combat roles, and they say that you misled them.

What's your answer to this?

Can you explain to her that it's really important... She's hung up.

Eventually, in answer to the allegations sent to her, she sent this voice note.