New images give a snapshot into the life of luxury lived by Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, the autocrat who claims to be personally leading Vladimir Putin ’s bid to seize blitzed city Mariupol.
The 44-year-old father-of-12 - who also has two adopted children - is waging a political campaign to stop Russian forces from retreating and halt peace talks with Ukraine.
He is also reportedly insisting on storming Kyiv.
Leaked battle plans suggest Putin was confident his forces would conquer Ukrainian capital Kyiv within 48 hours when he declared his "special military operation" on February 24. But instead, the city has held strong and Moscow has seen catastrophic losses.
Kadyrov has built palaces in Chechnya’s capital Grozny - one as his seat of power, another for his first wife, and a third for a woman assumed to be his polygamous junior spouse.
He flies in an opulent Airbus A319, worth around £61 million, even though his TransCaucasus republic is subsidised by the Russian taxpayer.
And a new investigation shows how he also has a vast secret mansion in Dubai, which he visits monthly.
There are now doubts over his social media portrayal of himself this week in the war zone, such as an image at what appeared to be a fake filling station picture evidently in Russia rather than Mariupol.
Other pictures showed Kadyrov pictured with his son Adam, 14, armed with a rifle, “in Ukraine”.
Some Russian sources claim that the Chechen warrior leader is now beyond Putin’s control.
He certainly appears to be the wealthiest regional governor in Russia, with a declared salary of £3.4 million.
The interior of his lavish luxury jet - with 5-star bedrooms - was revealed by Russian pop star Timati.
Ukrainska Pravda newspaper in Kyiv this week exposed him with an investigation showing his private aircraft had visited the UAE some 14 times in 2021-22.
Once asked how he afforded such luxury, Kadyrov replied; "Allah provides. I don't know. The money comes from somewhere."
The report claimed he had a UAE home at Zabeel Saray Royal Residences, at Palm Jumeirah, one of the world's most elite addresses.
An earlier investigation by Agentstvo found that palaces were built in Grozny, with emails indicating the involvement of Kazakh oligarch Kenes Rakishev, also the man who brokered the sale of Prince Andrew’s marital home Sunninghill Park for a reported £3 million over its market value.
“Kadyrov, who sends his subordinates to destroy the lives of Ukrainians, took good care of the comfort of his own life,” said the report.
“In total, with the help of various people and organisations, he built at least five mansions in Chechnya for his family.”
The main palace is described as “huge, with columns, [and] one large and four small domes”.
Kadyrov's first wife, Medni Kadyrova, 43, and her children live in one “mysterious” nearby palace, alleges the report.
And directly opposite the main palace was constructed “a beautiful house with a swimming pool on a plot with an area of two football fields”.
“This is the mansion of Kadyrov’s second wife, Fatima Khazuyeva,” said the report, referring to the former beauty pageant contestant, now aged 31.
The regional strongman may also have a third wife, singer Aminat (Amina) Akhmadova , 36, said the outlet.
A video shows the pair dancing together, and it is suggested they wed in 2013.
He has not publicly identified other spouses although referred in 2013 to “my wives” in a TV interview.
Kadyrov is suspected in the West of ordering a string of extra-judicial killings outside Russia, accusations he strongly denies.
He is also accused of human rights abuses and torture against his political opponents and gay activists.
Supporters say he has brought order to his region in southern Russia.
Oil-rich Chechnya was ravaged by two bloody wars since the collapse of communism and demise of the USSR, but its economy is now seen as buoyant.
Kadyrov this week went into battle against Putin’s close aide Vladimir Medinsky, who is involved in peace talks with Ukraine.
Medinsky said as a gesture of goodwill, Russia would pull back from operations near Kyiv.
He claimed Ukraine had shown a willingness to address many of Russia's concerns.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia remained committed to peace talks and de-escalation.
But the powerful Kadyrov said: "We are not making any kind of retreat. Mr. Medinsky is somehow mistaken.”
He added: "There's no reason to worry, we have our commander, the president, the leader who sees 100 years ahead.”
