Could Russia's use of barrier troops to kill own retreating soldiers be a sign Moscow's crumbling?

Russia's use of barrier troops in Ukraine could be a sign Moscow's military is crumbling, an expert has told Forces News.

Moscow is reportedly sending its own troops behind those on the Ukrainian frontline to kill anyone retreating or giving up.

Barrier troops, blocking units, or anti-retreat forces are military units positioned behind front-line forces to maintain discipline and prevent soldiers who are unwilling to fight from fleeing the battlefield.

Such units are reportedly being used by Russia, and it is thought likely Moscow has sent barrier troops to Kherson - where the fighting is in a tighter space and doesn't require an extremely large number of troops.

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Lieutenant Colonel (Ret'd) Glen Grant, Strategy Expert at RIGA Business School, told Forces News this is interesting because Russia has been "sending back, into Kherson, some of the best troops".

Watch: Inside Putin's relationship to the Wagner Group.

"If there is an indication that they are actually crumbling, then that really is big stuff.

"Putin is going to have to use National Guard. If he has to start using National Guard, he's got to start taking National Guard out of Russia proper.

"His personal bodyguard organisation gets thinner and thinner and weaker and weaker.

"You have to remember that the barrier troops themselves are also in fear of being shot by retreating soldiers."

Lt Col Grant added that "there would be no warnings" before shooting personnel thought to be retreating.

"There's also the risk of people who are going back for ammunition or... being sent back for water or something like that.

"They're not going to ask questions, because this isn't how this system works," he added.

Russia has already been using Chechens in Barrier Units, but that option's run dry,

For Russia's poorly trained fighters, there's little chance of battle manoeuvres that could be mistaken for running away.

"They go forward until they die – that's it," Lt Col Grant said. "We're talking about untrained mobilised civilians.

"Now we're talking about people who are there completely frightened, untrained, not very good at handling their weapon, with poor weapons, old weapons, that jam and that don't work properly."

"They're more likely to be pushing forward trying to find a piece f ground they can lie on to stay alive," he added.