Tik tok troops

No Russian military unit has as many videographers as Kadyrov's army. Professional cameramen, working from two cameras, daily shoot the "victorious" reports of Kadyrovites. Kadyrov's troops are distinguished by expensive equipment, brutal appearance and ostentatious cries of "Akhmat-Sila". Even being under fire, every Kadyrovite, who was pointed at the camera, is obliged to turn to his padishah with an assurance that his order will be carried out. Because of the love of narcissism and the restless passion for social networks, Kadyrovtsy was nicknamed "tik-tok troops." Most of these videos are staged, in which the Kadyrovites either fire in bursts towards the windows of an empty high-rise building, or for some reason shoot at the railway track, or “rescue” civilians from the basement, where they themselves drove them.

In fact, Kadyrov's mercenaries are not well adapted to real combat operations, they have neither heavy equipment, nor artillery, let alone aviation, so all they can do is enter already occupied territories, terrorizing civilians. The recently sensational story of the sadist Mongush from the Akhmat battalion, who tortured a Ukrainian prisoner on camera, is just one example; in reality, the Kadyrovites participated in many war crimes, for example, in the massacre in Bucha. Being completely unprepared for a real war, they themselves often suffer heavy losses, for example, in the first days of the invasion of Ukraine, their convoy came under attack from Bayraktars, then several dozen Chechen mercenaries died.

The "exploits" of the Kadyrovites are also broadcast on local television, they are filmed by a whole team of cameramen from the ChGTRKT. On the net you can find many interceptions of phone calls to the head of Chechnya. For example, in the audio interception of a telephone conversation between the Minister of Information of Chechnya, Akhmed Dudayev (cousin of Vladislav Surkov) and the press secretary of the Russian University of Special Forces, Nurid Epiyev, one can hear that they plan to deceive journalists and tell how they "took the city."

Even on the Russian side, there was often skepticism about the combat readiness of the Kadyrovites. In this vein, for example, the commander of the Vostok battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the unrecognized DPR, Alexander Khodakovsky, spoke out . He not only gave a low rating to the actions of the Kadyrovites, but also said that they were only suitable for operations in the second and third echelon, namely, for cleaning up the occupied territories and checking documents. After Khodakovsky's statement, a State Duma deputy and Kadyrov's cousin Adam Delimkhanov met with him. Khodakovsky was lucky to avoid the fate of a public apology to the head of Chechnya. Apparently, another form of apology approached his rank - an explanation. “The battalion commander explained himself for his careless words about Chechen fighters participating in a special operation in Ukraine. It turns out that he built his assumptions based on false information. But now, having seen our fighters in battle, Alexander [Khodakovsky] was personally convinced of their high professionalism,” the head of Chechnya wrote in his Telegram channel.

Igor Girkin (Strelkov), one of those who started the war in Donbas in 2014, has been and continues to be even harsher in his criticism. He regularly and dismissively speaks about how badly the Kadyrovites are fighting. In one of the latest revelations, Girkin analyzes a video where a fighter fires from a grenade launcher, standing in an open area and despising all precautions. He drew attention to the fact that in a real battle, with a probability of 70%, a Chechen fighter would have been shot immediately.

Not jihad

Kadyrovites are the highest paid contingent in Chechnya. The authorities are ready to pay a lot of money so that the people agree to fight against Ukraine. Neither in the First nor in the Second Chechen War did the authorities of separatist Ichkeria pay the militias, but there was no end to those who wanted to fight for the idea. Unlike the Ichkerians, the Kadyrovites do not rush into battle and go to Ukraine for the sake of the promised money. But not everyone gets what they promise. So, several fighters who returned from Ukraine posted an open video message in which they complained that they were deprived of social benefits and denied treatment.

They are trying to convince Kadyrovtsy that the war in Ukraine is correct from the point of view of Islam. Thus, Mufti of Chechnya Salakh Mezhiev and some of Kadyrov's tame theologians admitted that participation in the war against Ukraine is jihad (righteous war). Kadyrov himself often says that the war in Ukraine is the sacred duty of all Muslims and all Muslims should be happy to die there (however, for some reason he did not send any of his relatives to the war). In Chechnya, it seems, they didn’t really believe in the righteousness of the war in Ukraine, under the photographs of the dead, relatives do not write wishes characteristic of martyrs, but instead ask for forgiveness of all sins. A posthumous epitaph from survivors is a very important moment for Muslims.

Under the photo of the deceased, relatives do not write the wishes characteristic of martyrs, but instead ask for forgiveness of all sins

By phone, the relatives of the fighters ask them not to risk their lives. They say that this is "not our war, and we did not need it." In response, the Kadyrovites willingly talk about the Ukrainian army. According to them, the Ukrainians are fighting very hard and do not even let them rest. Also, literally all the Chechen military say that they are in the rear of other Russian units.

Big money you won't get

According to one of The Insider's sources, the fighters of Kadyrov's regiment are promised 600,000 rubles each for participation in hostilities - 300,000 from the Ministry of Defense and another 300 from Ramzan Kadyrov. The first tranche - 300,000 rubles - is issued to volunteers in cash even before they are sent, so some of the fighters go to the combat zone directly with this money. Equipment is purchased with the same funds. The money comes directly from the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, according to one of the interlocutors. According to another source close to the security services, the fund's funds are replenished by contributions from businessmen and forced deductions from state employees.

All sources claim that volunteers are taken to war without any experience of participating in hostilities, they are not even required to serve in the army. Preparation takes a week, during which time the recruits have time to explain in general terms how to shoot a machine gun and load a magazine. They give out only a uniform, but they say about protection: “you will get it in battle.” According to sources, some actually remove the armor from the dead and take it for themselves. These words are also confirmed by observations - the photo and video of the Akhmat battalion shows that many of them have “trophy” equipment.

On average, units are formed by 200 people. After passing the so-called training on the plane, the Kadyrovites are sent to Rostov-on-Don, from where they are transferred to the front line in the Donbass by buses, and after that they are already thrown to the front line.

Anyone who deserted is ordered to "zero". The interlocutors say that some of those who refused to fight were poured polyurethane foam into the anus. For every Ukrainian killed or captured, Kadyrov's fighters were supposed to be given a bonus, but in reality, according to sources, no one received this money. The situation is the same with bonuses for injuries - they promise 3 million rubles, but in fact no one receives them. Most often, the wounded are simply bandaged and sent back to the front, and if they refuse, they are threatened with punishment.

Deserters were ordered to "zero out", and some fugitives were poured polyurethane foam into the anus

In general, the number of security forces, which it is customary to designate with the word “Kadyrovtsy,” includes completely different units: private security under the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (“oil” regiment), a special purpose regiment under the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs, a regiment named after. Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, the former battalions “North” (its fighters were found guilty of the murder of Boris Nemtsov) and “South” reassigned to the Russian Guard, SOBR “Terek”, two special companies under the former 42nd motorized rifle division, security companies of the commandant’s offices, OMON of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Chechen Republic , personal protection of Ramzan Kadyrov (500-700 people) and top officials of Chechnya. In total, according to various estimates, there are 18-20 thousand Kadyrovites, but only a very small part of them went to Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, from March to the end of May, 2,500 mercenaries recruited in Chechnya were sent . At the same time, according to The Insider, if initially the first detachments were formed from Chechens, then from April residents of all regions of Russia began to participate in them - from Moscow to Kalmykia.

Go to war under the threat of reprisal

Since the Kadyrovites do not seek to get into the war with Ukraine, even for money, the authorities are trying to force them to fight by force. Now in Chechnya any young man can be sent to serve within a few days. It's enough to be caught drunk driving. In case of refusal, they threaten with physical violence. The recruitment of volunteers also takes place among the prisoners. So, The Insider knows a case when a former militant was forced to go to war, threatening pressure on his family.

Former militant forced to go to war in Ukraine, threatened with pressure on his family

Chechen bloggers claim that they are often sent feedback to the bot by the military, forcibly sent to the war with Ukraine. Most often, they are interested in how to cross the front line and surrender to the Ukrainians.

So far, there is the only officially confirmed fact of the capture of a Kadyrovite. In the video of the interrogation, the Chechen military repents of his actions and talks about the decadent mood among fellow soldiers. However, according to some experts, there are many more cases of Chechen military being taken prisoner, they are simply not advertised. Perhaps because the Kadyrovites are a valuable product for exchange, and Kadyrov is ready to give several times more captured Ukrainian soldiers for his prisoners. But such an exchange, beneficial for Ukraine, takes place only at an unofficial level.

To fight in order to “atone for the guilt before Kadyrov”

Over the long years of being the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov physically eliminated many of his personal enemies and critics. He does not forgive betrayal and brutally deal with objectionable. Now Kadyrov has changed tactics and simply sends the guilty to fight against Ukraine.

At the end of March, Kadyrov sent Apti Alaudinov, a former deputy Interior Ministry deputy for the Chechen Republic, to Ukraine. The ex-cop was fired a few years ago and expelled from his inner circle. He was accused either of participating or of sympathizing with the anti-Kadyrov conspirators. As part of this case, the mayor of the city of Argun, Movsar Temirbayev, was also detained. A few days after his release from unofficial imprisonment in colony-settlement No. 3, Temirbaev fell into an abyss in his car. Apti Alaudinov escaped with a slight fright and now must earn forgiveness for his heroism in Ukraine.

A few years ago, the former imam Magomed Khitanaev, known in Chechnya for his radical sermons against Kadyrov's enemies, also fell out of favor. According to opposition blogger Khasan Khalitov, Khyitanaev was also sent to Ukraine and was soon taken prisoner. Thus, for Kadyrov, the war became not only an occasion to show his strength and significance for the Kremlin, but also a way to tighten his power within the republic, finally cracking down on his ill-wishers.