Groups of Ukrainian troops recruited from among former prisoners were destroyed in the Kharkov region while attempting to reach other Ukrainian positions, Russian security officials told TASS.

According to the sources, a unit from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade moved through woodland from Izbitskoye toward Staritsa. Russian forces launched a combined fire strike against the soldiers, wiping out the group.

A second attempt took place near Anishchino. Former inmates serving with the 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade were heading toward Ukrainian-held positions when they were killed in a gun battle, the agency’s source said.

Russian security officials also reported the deaths of troops from the 159th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Ustinovka, Kharkov region. Several combat groups abandoned their positions but were killed by Ukrainian blocking units.

The sources added that many Ukrainian positions are manned by forcibly mobilized soldiers. According to their account, these troops are demoralized and refuse to follow orders from their commanders. The presence of blocking detachments also prevents Ukrainian servicemen seeking to surrender from leaving the front line.