Chechen Republican fighters, known for their courage and brutality, have been dispatched to Ukraine, Chechen chief Ramzan Kadyrov said yesterday (26th) local time.
According to Reuters, Kadyrov confirmed in a video posted on a Telegram channel yesterday that Chechen National Guard fighters had been sent to Ukraine, urging Ukrainians to overthrow their regime.
"There are rumors that the Chechens have surrendered and many fighters have been killed," he boasted.
"Our National Guard fighters have taken control of the Ukrainian National Guard operational brigade, and there are a lot of armored vehicles, ammunition and weapons," he said.
He also said that "Russian forces will easily capture Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kiev."
He did not, however, mention where the Chechen troops were dispatched to fight in Ukraine, etc.
Kadyrov gathered more than 10,000 troops and held a demonstration of force in the Chechen capital of Grozny on the same day.
He told reporters at this meeting, "I made a list, and about 70,000 people are ready to fight voluntarily for our country, Russia."
"We will show that we are patriots and are ready to defend our country," he said.
Kadyrov, who rules Chechnya, an autonomous Islamic republic, wields great power within the republic in exchange for his loyalty to President Vladimir Putin, and has frequently sparked controversy over human rights abuses.