Russian soldiers say commanders used ‘barrier troops’ to stop them retreating

Members of a recently formed Russian assault unit say their commanders deployed troops to stop them from retreating and threatened them with death after they suffered "huge" losses in eastern Ukraine.

In a video addressed to President Vladimir Putin, a group of about two dozen men in military uniform say they are the remnants of Storm, a unit under the defence ministry.

"We sat under open mortar fire and artillery for 14 days," Alexander Gorin, a Russian soldier, is heard saying in the appeal, which first appeared on Friday on Russian Telegram channels. "We took huge losses. Thirty-four people were injured and 22 died, including our commander."

Another soldier said the unit initially comprised 161 men at the start of the operations.

Barrier troops or anti-retreat forces are military units positioned behind frontline forces to maintain discipline and prevent soldiers from fleeing.

"Our commanders are a criminal organisation. There is no other way to put it," said another Russian soldier, who identified himself as Sergei Moldanov.

The Guardian identified eight men in the video. When contacted, three of them confirmed they were members of the Storm unit and verified the account given in the clip.