The Chechens are a muslim minority of the northern caucuses who have had a long and bloody past fighting against the Russian empire since the mid 1800's. The most recent wars took place in the mid nineties and late nineties, both were bloody--with Russia indiscriminately targeting civilians in the city of Grozny and elsewhere. During that time, Ramzan Kadyrov entered the picture during the second Chechnya war in 1999. He took over his father's ruthless, private army, also known as the Kadyrovsty, and joined sides with Putin--finishing up the war. Then, after his father's unresolved assassination in 2004 took over the Chechen province and became known as "Chechen Putin" due to his ruthlessness. Now with the "Special Military Operation" in the Ukraine Kadyrov has become a vocal and ardent supporter of the war--criticizing generals for losing battles and desiring to send his teenage sons into battle (or at least making Tik Tok videos about it). Along with this is a sort of psychological warfare where Putin is claiming to send "70,000" Chechens to boost the war effort. There has been a concerted effort on Tik Tok to showcase these Chechen soldiers as a terrible force to be reckoned with. However, there have been numerous experts that have disputed the ability that Russia will mobilize this many new soliders and that Chechens are not as intimidating as they make themselves out to be. Still, it is rather disturbing how Russia is so willing to use this oppressed minority by pressing them into military service like this.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/11/kadyrov-criticises-russias-stunning-setback-in-ukraine
https://www.thedailybeast.com/chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-vows-to-send-his-own-underage-sons-to-fight-in-ukraine
https://inkstickmedia.com/on-chechen-soldiers-in-ukraine/
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-chechen-fighters-ukraine/
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