The Russian invasion of Ukraine is, of course, Vladimir Putin's war. But if there is anyone else whose name and reputation will be tied to the devastation orchestrated by Moscow, it is the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.. Its fighters participated in the first wave of the offensive, many died at the airfield in Gostomel. In particular, the Ukrainian military killed one of the key commanders of the "

The Guardian writes about this, adding that elite Chechen detachments also took part in attempts to kill members of the Ukrainian government in the first 48 hours of the invasion, as evidenced by Western intelligence data.. Also recently, " The leader of Chechnya himself published a video on social networks in which he claimed to be in Ukraine and threatened the residents of Kyiv with a “personal visit”.

Ukrainian intelligence believes video was fake self-praise. And Kadyrov filmed it at home in Chechnya. Data collected from telephone and internet networks shows that he never crossed the Ukrainian border.. And even Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to confirm the authenticity of the video, noting that the Russian government had no data on Kadyrov's possible trip to Ukrainian territory.. But, despite the fakeness, the video has become an important element of propaganda.. He talks about how closely and with great enthusiasm Kadyrov tied himself to this war.. He seems to see the invasion of Ukraine as a chance to increase his power and authority.. By sending fighters, Kadyrov is trying to prove his loyalty to the Russian leader, whose patronage served as the basis for his own regime in Chechnya..

“Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of Chechens hate him. There are many families who secretly seek blood feuds on him and his family.. Kadyrov understands that if he wants to survive, he needs Russia and the support of Vladimir Putin. That is why he wants to show absolute loyalty, to prove his usefulness, - said Emil Solomon Aslan, an expert at the Institute for Political Studies at Charles University in Prague..

“Kadyrovtsy”, in a sense, irregular forces that are attracted by Russia. Chechen commanders and Russian intelligence constantly clash. Sometimes this results in public showdowns.. " All video fighters emphasize that they are under the command of Kadyrov, and not Russian military generals.

Unlike Russian troops, Chechen troops carry mobile phones with them, post on social networks and call the events in Ukraine a war, ignoring the Kremlin’s demands to speak exclusively of a “special military operation”. But despite everything, their prominent role in the war is a contribution to Kadyrov's image, a public demonstration that the country's large army really depends on his gang of Chechens.. He launched an Arabic-language Telegram channel this month, apparently trying to capitalize on his popularity.. This is a big step for a small Russian region where Arabic is not even spoken.. He tried to present mobilization as something supporting the entire Chechen society. School teachers ordered students to make lists of people who had a place at home to shelter " And some officials allegedly gave their monthly salaries as a donation to the war. For Putin, the Chechens are seasoned fighters, hardened in street fights to the point of attrition.. Kadyrov's reputation as a fierce favorite is also a weapon. “Kadyrov has extensive experience in conducting so-called purges against civilians.. And his fighters can be used as a psychological tool against peaceful Ukrainians. The clear threat is simple: if you do not give up, you will face the same fate that has already befallen peaceful cities in Georgia and Chechnya,” said Alexander Kvakhadze, a researcher at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies.. “Also, the older generation of Chechen fighters participated in the defense of Grozny during the war against Russia.. Therefore, Russian commanders are convinced that in a certain sense these forces have skills that can be used in Ukraine, especially during the siege of Mariupol,” the expert added.. Kadyrov disposes of Chechnya as if it were his own property and rules through fear and violence. He may even be an example for a Russian leader sliding into an even deeper autocracy as the Russian economy collapses under the pressure of sanctions.. The Chechen leader has traditionally provided the Kremlin with an alternative to the law enforcement system, collecting data and destroying political enemies.. The publication recalls that in 2015, five Chechens were convicted for the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.. But now the Kremlin is looking for someone to blame for the failure in Ukraine.. One of the FSB chiefs is already under house arrest. Therefore, the Chechen data collection capabilities may become even more useful for the Russian government, given the historical rift between them and the Russian intelligence services.. Many Chechens felt they were being sent like cannon fodder to a poorly planned war.. Now they seem to be focusing on media battles, trying to recruit new cadres and boost their leader's image..

The publication writes that Kadyrov promises volunteers 2.3 thousand dollars and another thousand dollars of salary per month with bonuses for successful operations.. Such offers are made through martial arts trainers who encourage young students to sign contracts.. But the Chechens, it seems, are in no hurry to do this, remembering the brutal massacre on the Ukrainian fronts..

“Video and metadata show that the majority of Chechen forces are located 20 kilometers from the collision lines. And the only thing they do is record videos to motivate people in the middle of Chechnya and promote the militant image of Kadyrov and his troops,” Kvakhadze said, adding that all efforts to lure “volunteers” by offering them generous pay did not work..

Kadyrov has another reason to fight. At least two brigades formed from the Chechen diaspora are fighting side by side with the Ukrainian army.. These people hate Kadyrov and would like to overthrow him. Therefore, he needs to show his strength to enemies at home and abroad.. But for this he needs to save his strength to maintain a brutal regime..

“Kadyrov seemed to be shocked by the scale of Ukrainian resistance. And dozens, if not hundreds, of his men were killed. He has a lot of fighters, about 12 thousand. But if he wants to keep power, he needs these people,” Aslan said..

“If they suffer too many losses in Ukraine, this may reflect on Kadyrov. This may explain why he withdrew some of his powers.. He wants to prove himself as a tough leader of strong fighters ready for self-sacrifice.. But I'm not sure that they are really ready to sacrifice their lives,"