Moscow: In a surprise visit to Chechnya on Tuesday, Vladimir Putin made his first appearance in the region in 13 years, meeting with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and troops preparing to fight in Ukraine.
During his visit to the Gudermes Special Forces Academy, named after him, Putin expressed admiration for the troops’ unwavering commitment, declaring that their efforts render Russia “absolutely invincible”. He acknowledged the contrast between training exercises and the real-life dangers faced in combat, praising the soldiers for their courage in defending their homeland.
Putin’s tour included a stop at a newly constructed mosque, where Kadyrov and the Supreme Mufti of Chechnya honored him with a certificate recognizing him as an honorary citizen of Chechnya. Kadyrov also presented a model of a new residential area in Grozny, which will bear Putin’s name.
Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Putin, has played a significant role in supporting the Kremlin’s policies. Appointed by Putin in 2007 to lead Chechnya at the age of 30, Kadyrov recently revealed via Telegram that more than 47,000 Chechen troops have been deployed to Ukraine since the start of the war, including 19,000 volunteers.
The visit to Chechnya came shortly after Elon Musk dismissed claims that he had gifted Kadyrov a Tesla Cybertruck. The Chechen leader had shared a video of himself driving the vehicle, sparking speculation.
Putin’s North Caucasus tour also took him to Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia. In North Ossetia, he visited School No. 1 in Beslan, the site of the 2004 siege by Islamist militants, which resulted in the deaths of more than 330 people. The attack is considered the deadliest in modern Russian history.
Also Read | PM Modi Advocates Peace Ahead of Historic Ukraine Visit
While speaking to mothers of children who perished in the Beslan tragedy, Putin likened the attackers to the Ukrainian forces currently involved in skirmishes in Russia’s Kursk region. “Just as we fought terrorists,” Putin stated, “today we must fight those committing crimes in the Kursk region.”
Chechnya remains politically significant for Putin. The Second Chechen War, which he launched in 1999 against separatist fighters in the majority-Muslim region, was a pivotal event that helped solidify his rise to power.
