Ukraine Military Intelligence (Hur) has published an intercepted phone call that suggests that Russian commanders are openly recruiting soldiers to serve in the so -called barrier troops, units responsible for blocking withdrawals, a widely condemned practice as a war crime, as reported by the media.
In the audio, a Russian soldier describes how recruiters recently visited their unit asking for volunteers to join the barrier troops. “They came to see us, we told them to go to shit, we basically went anywhere,” he says. The second soldier reacts by calling the recruiters “Damn Bastors” and adds: “They should be shot immediately.”
Men continue to discuss how rumors about the recruitment campaign are extending through Russian positions. “Yes, I have also heard of this because it arose here,” says the second soldier. “No one has come, but we already know that they are asking,” he adds.
The objective of barrier troops is to block the withdrawals with the threat or use of lethal force against their own soldiers, a practical one that is considered illegal according to international humanitarian law, explained the same medium. In fact, it replicates the tactics of the Soviet era during World War II, specifically Stalin’s order 227 (“Not one step back!”), Which involved shooting soldiers in retreat, a policy widely condemned now as a war crime.
“Are they going crazy or what?” Asks the soldier, who points out: “Send people to kill their own … those bastards should shoot them first.” In the intercepted call, one of the soldiers openly mocks the situation, accusing the commanders of losing control.
Ukraine’s intelligence has repeatedly reported that Russia is resuming these tactics due to the growing number of casualties, the collapse of morality and generalized fear among its troops.
