Russian army chaos as soldiers go on rampage after refusing to fight | World | News

Russian soldiers staged a riot at their barracks after reportedly refusing to go and fight in Ukraine.

The incident happened on Tuesday at a base in Novosibirsk in Siberia belonging to the military unit 57849.

Video images appear to show soldiers going on the rampage, smashing windows and overturning furniture.

Ten soldiers then fled the base, prompting military authorities to launch a manhunt for the absconders.

The unarmed men are reported to have flagged down taxis, which drove them away from the village where the barracks are located.

Later, four of the soldiers were detained by military police. The fate of the other six is still unknown.

Yevgeny Antipov, the head of the Kochcenevsky district where the revolt took place, said: “According to the Department of Internal Affairs for the Kochenevsky district, 10 people left the unit without permission.

“Within 30 minutes, they left the territory of the village by taxi. No crimes were committed in the area.

“Four people were detained outside the Kochenevsky district.”

The soldiers staged the riot after being told they would have to return to frontline duties – despite being injured.

A video clip – obtained by the Russian media outlet Astra – shows around a dozen soldiers arguing with military police officers before the riot.

One soldier said he had a serious injury and was walking with a limp, while another shouts: “You don’t consider us people. The boys there f***ing die so you can live here.”

The officer replies: “Yes, I will be here, and you will go. Regardless of your prejudices, regardless of your injuries, you will go anyway.”

Russian soldiers have repeatedly complained of being treated badly by their commanders.

Many say they are sent into combat without adequate equipment and are often abandoned by their officers.

In a protest video posted online last year, one soldier said: “There are no commanders that would take us to the front line.

“There is no equipment, evacuation teams, or radios. We are just thrown into the woods like dogs.”