Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made a rare visit to the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, where he inspected Chechen troops and volunteers preparing to fight in Ukraine. This marked Putin’s first trip to the region in 13 years, underscoring the significance of the ongoing conflict. The visit took place at the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, where Putin praised the troops, saying, “As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible.”
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a key ally of Putin, reported that over 47,000 Chechen soldiers have been deployed to Ukraine since the war began, including around 19,000 volunteers. Kadyrov, often referred to as Putin’s “foot soldier,” has played a prominent role in mobilizing forces to support Russia’s military efforts.
In addition to his visit to Chechnya, Putin also stopped in Beslan, North Ossetia, for the first time in 16 years. He met with mothers of the victims of the 2004 school siege, one of Russia’s deadliest tragedies, which claimed the lives of over 330 people, including 136 children. Putin emphasized that this tragedy remains “an unhealed wound” in Russia’s memory.
Putin also drew parallels between past and present threats, stating that just as Russia once fought terrorists, it now faces new challenges from those attempting to destabilize the country, referencing recent incursions into Russian territory by Ukrainian forces.
