NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
British military intelligence believe the Russian army is shooting its own soldiers in order to prevent them from deserting.
The Ministry of Defence said the Kremlin has ‘probably’ started using ‘barrier troops’ to block people from leaving the front line.
Special units could be deployed behind advanced forces to prevent reluctant reservists called up and sent to fight from trying to escape.
The tactic of turning part of the military against another to instil fear and discipline was deployed by the Red Army and regularly used by Joseph Stalin during the Second World War.