Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced his readiness to deploy an additional 3,000 troops to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.
These troops are set to join new units within the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian National Guard forces. Kadyrov, who often refers to himself as a devoted follower of President Vladimir Putin and has occasionally criticized Russia’s approach to the war, views the conflict in Ukraine as a defense against Western hostilities.
Kadyrov, communicating via the Telegram messaging app, stated that these fighters are equipped with advanced weaponry and gear. He emphasized their high combat readiness and strong motivation to achieve significant outcomes.
Previously, in May, Kadyrov had revealed that since the onset of the war, Chechnya, a federal republic of Russia, had dispatched over 26,000 soldiers to Ukraine.
This number included 12,000 volunteers, with around 7,000 actively engaged in combat at that time.
The accuracy of Kadyrov’s statements regarding the Chechen contingent in Ukraine remains unconfirmed, as independent verification is not available. Estimates regarding the number of Chechen troops in Ukraine are varied.
It is also noted that several Chechen armed groups have been fighting for Ukraine since the conflict escalated with Russia’s comprehensive assault 21 months prior.
Earlier in November, Kadyrov mentioned that a significant number of former Wagner mercenaries, notable for their involvement in intense battles in Ukraine, had commenced training with Chechen special forces.
This came after the Wagner group experienced a brief period of turmoil and mutiny against the Russian defense establishment.
