Not sure if this reporter is telling the truth... Would seem counterintuitive to send your troops to both sides to war against each other. Infiltrate their territory yes, fight against your own country, no. I doubt anyone is telling the truth anyway.
Not if ISIS were a Russian invention used to create instability in the region in order that Russia can emerge as the 'white knights on a horse' to save the day. Then of course set up permanent bases there and basically rule over the region. This in addition to their expansionist moves in Eastern Europe.
You could not have said it better. This is exactly what Kreml is aiming for.
1. Sending troops to both sides = The Soviet method of Provokatsiya http://20committee.com/2014/03/29/understanding-provocation/
2. I doubt anyone is telling the truth anyway.
Yes, this is the purpose of Soviet 2.0 propaganda, since they do not like the reality, make all doubt what is happening
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/09/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-military-information-psychology
If you prefer the Russian versions http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/apr/10/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-peter-pomerantsev-long-read-russian-translation