This is the moment Chechen troops carry out combat missions in Ukraine as the president of the Russia-aligned Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, claims he has the right formula to guarantee Russian victory.
Kadyrov, 45, said on June 14: “With martial skills alone, the battle cannot be won. Reliable intelligence, coordinates of enemy firing positions and a detachment of courageous fighters are needed to complete the mission.
“If all of the above points are met, the victory of our guys is inevitable. Fortunately for us, and with great regret for the opposing side, this is exactly the algorithm of action that the fighters of the allied forces adhere to.
“My dear brother, Musa Akhmatov, commander of the PPSP regiment of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Grozny, together with his comrades, very carefully checks every corner where the enemy can possibly hide. Not a single Banderite or nationalist trash can hide from Musa’s keen eye.”
“The work of our scouts is always fraught with high risk as they are the first to enter enemy territory. Apparently, the last scouting sortie was successful. The enemy has been detected, now it’s up to the assault squads and artillery. Soon it will be hot on the Ukrainians’ heels and we, in turn, will celebrate another victory!”
We contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials for comment but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” June 14 marks the 111th day of the campaign.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and June 14, Russia had lost 32,500 personnel, 1,434 tanks, 3,503 armored fighting vehicles, 721 artillery systems, 229 multiple launch rocket systems, 97 anti-aircraft systems, 213 warplanes, 179 helicopters, 2,473 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 warships/boats, 588 drones, 54 pieces of special equipment and 125 cruise missiles.
All the bridges to the besieged Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk have reportedly been destroyed, according to the local governor, Serhiy Haidai. Ukrainian forces there are now cut off from any possible retreat and fierce street-to-street fighting is taking place in the city, which has been the focus of Russian artillery fire for weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian attacks on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk has turned them into “dead cities.”
An aide to President Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is losing up to 200 troops a day.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for additional weapons from Ukraine’s allies.
The United Kingdom and the United States have said they are sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.
Ukrainian officials have said that weapons are not arriving fast enough.
An adviser to President Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, has said that to end the war, they need “1,000 howitzers caliber 155 mm; 300 [Multiple Launch Rocket Systems]; 500 tanks; 2000 armored vehicles; 1,000 drones”.
Podolyak added: “Contact Group of Defense Ministers meeting is held in Brussels on June 15. We are waiting for a decision.”
President Putin has said that the West will not be able to wean itself off from Russian oil and gas for years.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on June 8 that recommended that Ukraine be granted the status of candidate country for EU membership. In the balloting, 438 members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the resolution, with 65 voting against and 94 abstaining.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said recently that Turkey has raised legitimate concerns in its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance and that talks to find a solution would continue.
