Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has inspected Chechen troops and volunteers readying to fight Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
Inspection
The inspection took place on Tuesday.
This is Putin’s first trip in 13 years to the Muslim dominated North Caucasus republic.
Muslims In the North Caucasus
Most of the ethnic groups in the North Caucasus are Muslims.
There are three large Islamic centres in the North Caucasus: Dagestan, Chechnya and Karachaevo-Cherkessia.
Moscow is fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk region two weeks after they smashed through the border.
Largest Invasion Of Russia Since World War Two
Significantly, since World War Two, this is largest invasion of Russia.
“As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible,” Putin told troops at the Russian Special Forces University.
This university is a training school in Chechnya’s Gudermes, according to a transcript on the Kremlin’s website.
Putin Motivates Troops
The Russian President said, “It is one thing to shoot at a shooting range here, and another thing to put your life and health at risk.’’
He further said, “But you have an inner need to defend the Fatherland and the courage to make such a decision.”
Foreign Occupation Of Russian Land
Moreover, the foreign occupation of Russian land continues to be an embarrassment for Putin and his Army.
This is despite the fact that Russian forces are continuing their gradual but steady advances on the frontline in eastern Ukraine.
The United States sanctioned Kadyrov in 2020 and in 2022 for alleged human rights and mobilising Chechen troops to fight Ukraine.
He told Putin at a separate meeting that Chechnya had sent more than 47,000 troops since the start of the war to fight Ukraine, including about 19,000 volunteers.
Notably, Kadyrov has often described himself as Putin’s “foot soldier.”
Putin Praises Foot Soldiers
Putin said, “If I had more of these foot soldiers, I would be very happy, but even one such foot soldier is worth a lot,’’ the RIA agency reported.
The President said this in response to a question from a journalist who asked if “Putin’s foot soldiers” like Kadyrov justify his trust.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
