Vladimir Putin's ally has issued a terrifying warning to Ukraine that he will "finish" anyone who refuses to give up their fight.
Warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of the Russian president, boasted about his troops who are driving Ukrainian forces to flee, according to reports.
The Chechen leader said that he was in Ukraine with Russian forces on Monday in a video uploaded on the Telegram app.
Several international organisations have accused Kadyrov of serious human rights violations in the Caucasus Republic, reports the Daily Star.
In the footage, he is seen looking at plans with troops in the room which he said was filmed in Hotomel, an airfield near Kyiv in Ukraine which was captured by Russian forces in the first few days of their attack.
But this has not been independently verified, reports News AU.
Kadyrov wrote, “the other day we were about 20km from you Kyiv Nazis and now we are even closer" and demanded that Ukrainian forces surrender "or you will be finished".
He vowed to show them that "Russian practice teaches warfare better than foreign theory and the recommendation of military advisers."
Reports suggest that Chechen soldiers could play a crucial part in helping Russia to take control of Ukraine's capital Kyiv with mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group.
According to Russia Today, Kadyrov said: “Members of the Ukrainian armed forces and national battalions, who have always bragged about their courage, flee when they see the Chechen fighters, leaving behind heavy weapons and military equipment.
“Full military coordination, the correct deployment of troops and a decisive assault – that’s all we need.
"We must finish what we started and do it quickly.
“Since [the Ukrainians] have twice refused to negotiate we must change tactics.
"That will convince them.”
