Kadyrov claims 84,000 Chechen fighters ready for Ukraine war
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov admits that more than 84,000 of his fighters are not taking part in the conflict in Ukraine, as reported by The Moscow Times.
Kadyrov has strategically used the war in Ukraine to bolster his own military forces, nearly tripling the number of armed units under his control in just under three years of fighting. The number has soared from 7 to 19. In September, following a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Chechnya, Kadyrov announced the establishment of another unit consisting of 2,500 people.
While Kadyrov states that these troops are ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice, he did not clarify if or when such an order would be given.
Officially under the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, or the National Guard, these units effectively remain under Kadyrov’s command. Stationed predominantly in Chechnya, they rarely leave the region. In the media, they’ve earned the nickname "TikTok troops" due to staged videos simulating combat, leaving the heavy lifting to other Russian divisions.
The only unit Kadyrov reportedly deploys to the front is the "Akhmat" volunteer battalion, a force comprised mainly of non-Chechens, led by Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov. It is these "Akhmat" fighters who find themselves on the front line after minimal preparation, while Kadyrov's other forces stay behind lines or aid in guarding Russian regions like Belgorod and Kursk.
However, even in these regions, Chechen fighters have shown limitations. In August, when Ukrainian forces breached the border in the Kursk region, the "Akhmat-Chechnya" battalion stationed there failed to hold the positions. Ukrainian troops captured territory swiftly, and captured some Kadyrov’s battalion fighters.
Previously, Kadyrov has taken a strong stance against key figures within Russian President Vladimir Putin's security apparatus, accusing Russian officials of "losing" Ukraine and Georgia.
Additionally, Kadyrov has declared vendetta against oligarch and Federation Council member Suleyman Kerimov, as well as State Duma deputies Bekhan Barakhov and Rizvan Kurbanov, alleging they conspired to assassinate him.