In a surprise visit to the North Caucasus region, Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, reviewed Chechen troops and volunteers gearing up for deployment to Ukraine.
This marks Putin’s first visit to the region since 2011 and comes at a time when Moscow is striving to repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, following their recent incursion in what is considered the largest invasion of Russian territory since World War II.
During an inspection at the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, Putin addressed the assembled soldiers, emphasizing their vital role in the conflict.
The recent Ukrainian advance across the northern border has posed significant challenges to Putin’s military strategy, even as Russian forces continue their progress on the eastern Ukrainian front.
Kadyrov, a staunch Kremlin ally often referred to as Putin’s “foot soldier,” informed the Russian president that Chechnya had deployed over 47,000 troops to Ukraine since the onset of the war, including nearly 19,000 volunteers.
Putin’s relationship with Chechnya has deep roots, dating back to his tenure as prime minister in 1999 when he led the second Chechen war against separatist forces.
The conflict, characterized by a devastating ground assault supported by heavy artillery and aerial bombardment, resulted in the deaths of at least 50,000 people and left Grozny, the Chechen capital, in ruins.
Since assuming leadership in 2007, Kadyrov has overseen the reconstruction of Chechnya with substantial financial aid from Moscow.
