chechen soldiers in ukraine 2022

Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov - a close ally of Vladimir Putin - is reported to be seriously ill with kidney problems amid fears of 'poisoning'.. Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription. The secret WhatsApp mode that lets you EDIT texts after you've sent them, Revealed: The new '23' number plates the DVLA deems offensive and has banned including EU23 OFF and GO23 HEL. High-profile investigations such as Bellingcats investigation of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads usage of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria, and its expos of the Russia-backed separatists that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, among others, have established OSINT as a potent journalistic tool. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Molfar said that, based on his VKontakte posts, it appears that Lebedev has continued to fight Ukrainian forces, though he is now wise enough not to include his geolocation data. Palantin-K [First example destroyed in February 2023] Pole-21. He is pictured (right) withRussian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu, Kadyrov had 'made too many enemies among the generals who have access to the GRU's developments' Picured:Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin's warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (left) wearing a police uniform with some of his awards pinned on the chest, Kadyrov had 'made too many enemies among the generals who have access to the GRU's developments.'. "), holding their rifles in the air before being handed military ID cards that are issued to volunteers. There were 'already results' from this probe, he said. 1L267 Moskva-1. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. [7], A number of anti-Kadyrov Chechens have volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian forces, such as with the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion. On his own Telegram channel, however, Kadyrov disputed that Tushayev had been killed. Eight decades on from when the U.S. government established the Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service to keep an eye on overseas media, things have changed radically. The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account. A volunteer soldier holds up a drone used for explosives at a training area near Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 27, 2022. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. When Alaudinov was poisoned last month, Kadyrov said: 'There is an investigation of the assassination attempt, identifying those involved.'. NPR's Emily Feng has this story. In another photo, a gazebo with corrugated blue walls and roof paneling further helped to triangulate the troops exact location in relation to the kindergarten building. Like Russia, Ukraine has learned this the hard way and has suffered through its own OPSEC blunders, such as when Russian OSINT researchers successfully identified the location of a tank repair facility in Kyiv from a report on April 7 by Ukrainian TV channel 1+1. By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. The journalist Neil Hauer reported that Chechens may have landed at the Antonov airport, west of Kyiv. And in September, Molfars reports appeared to demonstrate that Russian volunteer Alexander Heres did the same for its 123rd Regiment after posting similar videos of drone footage to his own Telegram channel. Delivered Wednesday & Sunday. This is what most people think of when they think of OSINT, which refers to gathering intelligence from any publicly available materials: open-source investigative techniques deployed to prove military or criminal wrongdoing. FENG: The Chechens say they are eager to pass on their experience fighting Russia for the last 20 years to the Ukrainian army. In the video, men alight from military trucks, one with the letter Z across its front. Watch the conversation or read the condensed transcript. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. On Saturday afternoon, the Kyiv Independent journalist Illia Ponomarenko and the UNIAN news agency reported that Magomed Tushayev, a prominent Chechen military leader, had been killed in battle in Hostomel. But beyond the goals of one leader in Moscow, it is also clear that Ukraine has suffered horrors of a historic nature. Military, A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Since the beginning of the war, Molfar has received funding from the Civilian Research and Development Foundationa nongovernmental organization that includes the U.S. State Department, U.S. Defense Department, and the U.K. government among its backersto give additional OSINT trainings to officials from the SBU, as well as to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and other government bodies. But its not just the United States. In public we only say there is an IT army here in Ukraine, a lot of people, 300,000 working against Russia, offensive and defensive, helping. IE 11 is not supported. You may opt out at any time. Watch the conversation or read the condensed transcript. We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. But beyond the goals of one leader in Moscow, it is also clear that Ukraine has suffered horrors of a historic nature. Tor, a volunteer who asked only to be identified by his battlefield nickname, said he sees no difference between the two conflicts. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on. Molfar agreed to share this account of their work with FP and, where possible, FP has corroborated with additional linked evidence. standing, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. ', Ramzan Kadyrov has strongly attacked the running of the war, especially by the Russian defence ministry and certain generals. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. If Putin had hoped to weaken NATO, the very opposite has happened, with Finland and Sweden on the cusp of joining the transatlantic military alliance. Is Weiss correct? The extra complications now were not so apparent then.. By signing up, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to occasionally receive special offers from Foreign Policy. WebMore Russian soldiers have died in combat in Ukraine than in all of its wars since World War II combined, a new analysis has revealed. Ukrainian officials say the Chechen battalion currently numbers several hundred who fight alongside the countrys military but are not formally under the national command. Some speculate that is why he did not attend Russian dictator Vladimir Putins address to the Federal Assembly Ukraines economy and infrastructure have been dealt blows that will take decades to recover from. To deal not only with them, but also to bring to justice their families, who may live in Russia,' he urged on his Telegram channel. NEW FOR SUBSCRIBERS: The rise of American-made chatbots has kicked off a flurry of Chinese activity. UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: (Through interpreter) This is our dream. Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates Tue 5 Apr 2022 14.38 EDT Last modified on Wed 6 Apr 2022 06. The world over, countries are embarking on ambitious projects of industrial policy. Please follow our comment guidelines, stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others beliefs. The head of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile, Akhmed Zakayev, said Kadyrov has serious problems with kidneys. Russia brutally suppressed them in two wars, and their presence echoes old hatreds in Ukraine. People have to understand we dont have a choice, he said speaking in English with his face covered. Jammers And Deception Systems. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. Based in Ukraine with 56 employees, Molfars primary enterprise is corporate investigations, but after the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, its portfolio quickly diversified. Unlike in 1941, when there was no satellite technology, foreign news reporting can now become rapidly actionable intelligence. In Molfars assessment, there was little to no likelihood that children were still in the kindergarten, having been supplanted by the Chechen troops. Even more than Russian contractors.. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on One word kept coming up when Maura Reynolds talked to survivors of the Russian military campaign in Chechnya. So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible. There is now little doubt that Putin failed in his initial goals: Kyiv is still Show morestanding, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. But beyond the goals of one leader in Moscow, it is also clear that Ukraine has suffered horrors of a historic nature. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. The psychological warfare fits neatly into broader Russian efforts to end the invasion of Ukraine before it had even really begun. At the time of publication FP was unable to verify either sides claims. Train fares will rise by 5.9% TOMORROW - but travellers can still get cheaper tickets if they buy them What happens when classic cars sell for too much? This is not the right time to reveal all of these connections, he said. These included an on-site interview by the pro-Russian news site Donetsk Time with Russian TV presenter and celebrity Yulia Baranovskaya posted on Telegram. Published On 24 Mar 2022 24 Mar 2022. Create an FP account to save articles to read later and in the FP mobile app. [3][4], On 28 February, Kadyrov released a Telegram post saying that "the chosen tactics in Ukraine are too slow," calling for Russian forces to take more aggressive action. FPs Ravi Agrawal spoke with two of the very best Russia experts:Angela Stent, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author ofPutins World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest, and Michael Kofman, the research program director of the Russia studies program at the Center for Naval Analyses. There are reasons. While Kadyrov, 46, is one of Putin's closest allies, the Chechen strongman - reportedly a father of 14 with three current wives - has strongly attacked the running of the war, especially by the Russian defence ministry and certain generals. We must win, we must win, he declared. Aug. 27, 2022, at 1:57 p.m. Rival Chechen Fighters Take War to Battlefields of Ukraine. One group of new Chechen arrivals, many of whom live in Western Europe, was being trained at a makeshift firing range outside Kyiv before heading east. Kadyrov further suggested that none of his forces had even been injured in the fighting. ", https://www.dailydot.com/debug/chechen-commander-death-ukraine-video-fact-check/, "Warlord who helped oversee Chechnya's brutal 'gay purge' killed in Ukraine", https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/02/28/russia-chechnya-ukraine-magomed-tushayev/, "Key Putin ally admits Russian tactics in Ukraine failed in early days of invasion and calls for more brutal approach", https://www.businessinsider.com/ramzan-kadyrov-russia-too-slow-in-ukraine-calls-brutal-attack-2022-2, "Putin ally repeats call for Russia to use more brutal tactics in Ukraine, admits some of his own troops were killed", https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-ally-kadyrov-admits-troop-losses-calls-new-russia-tactics-2022-3, "Volodymyr Zelenskyy Has Reportedly Survived 3 Assassination Attempts In The Last Week | HuffPost UK World News", https://www.huffpost.com/entry/volodymyr-zelenskyy-assassination-attempts_n_62223f97e4b0bd1df76b3a74, "My MMA Gym Will Be Empty: Chechens Head to Ukraine to Fight Kadyrov", https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgjn8/chechnya-fighters-ukraine-russia-ramzan-kadyrov, "Chechens and Georgians in Ukraine preparing to continue fight against Putin on a new front", https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chechens-and-georgians-in-ukraine-preparing-to-continue-fight-against/, "Ukrainian fighters grease bullets against Chechens with pig fat", https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/28/ukrainian-fighters-grease-bullets-against-chechens-with-pig-fat, "Russia Tries to Terrorize Ukraine With Images of Chechen Soldiers", https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/26/russia-chechen-propaganda-ukraine/, "From Grozny to Aleppo to Ukraine, Russia meets resistance with more firepower", https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60631433, "Ukraine invasion: Why is Kyiv being likened to the next Grozny? The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account. Putin openly, absolutely, says he wants to rebuild the Soviet empire.. You will not be allowed into heaven. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. What does that mean for trade and globalization? Explore the benefits included in your subscription. A volunteer soldier holds up a drone used for explosives at a training area near Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 27, 2022. The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week. Molfars pivot to military investigatory services is indicative of a broader growth in demand for OSINT services over the past decade, said Di Cooke, a technology fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription. A Chechen special force trooper sits atop an armored personnel carrier decorated with a portrait of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, the father of I dont know. Another photopublished on the pro-Russian news site URA on June 3, in an article about a soldier who liberated Rubizhne with Chechen forcesshowed soldiers standing in a room with childrens wallpaper depicting birds and a cartoon sun. Usernames may be updated at any time and must not contain inappropriate or offensive language. It is unclear how many civilians remained in the area, and Starosiek pointed out that reporting civilian casualties is a common tactic used by Russian propagandists when troop losses are sustained. Read also: Chechen warlord Kadyrov also wants to create his own private military company . Russias War in Ukraine. A Russia Today report by Chechen correspondent Sargon Hadaya was picked up on May 6 by Molfar on a pro-Russian group on VKontakte called Beyond the Edge. The whole world is already standing up for us, he says, speaking in Russian. The videos were subsequently posted on the Telegram channel of Russias most famous propagandist Vladimir Solovyov who has over 1 million subscribers in July. EMILY FENG, BYLINE: Mansur was 13 when Russian soldiers destroyed his village of Samashki during Chechnya's first war for independence against Russia. The Biden administration has passed landmark legislations such as theInflation Reduction Act(IRA) and theCHIPS and Science Act, which provide subsidies in clean energy and semiconductoShow morers worth well over $400 billion. The Chechen Republic, commonly known as Chechnya, is a federal republic of Russia that has been noted in several roles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Watchthe conversation onFP Live, the magazines forum for live journalism, orreada condensed transcript. Kazakh journalist Azamat Maytanov citing his own sources claimed Kadyrov may be terminally ill, with poisoning the possible cause. 1L269 Krasukha-2. WebRamzan Kadyrov, leader of the pro-Russian Kadyrovites who fought against Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of the country The Chechen Republic, commonly known as Chechnya, is a federal republic of Russia that has been noted in several roles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Join FPs Ravi Agrawal for a frank discussion about the Biden administrations China policy and alternatives that it ought to consider. While OSINT has been used to uncover human rights crimes and disinformation in conflicts before, like the Syrian civil war, this is the first major active conflict that has very visibly and viscerally shown the advantages leveraging OSINT can have both on and off the battlefield, Cooke said. I agree to abide by FPs comment guidelines. Delivered Monday-Friday. Molfar was formed from the due diligence wing of Noospherea company specializing in rocket and satellite technologythat was bought out by Artem Starosiek, a Ukrainian, and formed into an independent corporate entity. 1L267 Moskva-1. He said he thought, We could do better and reverse this method against the enemy.. BEL MOONEY:Why does caring for my dad take over my life? Hundreds of Chechen fighters praying in the forest before battle. To him, the use of OSINT was already well understood by the Russians, and their repeated OPSEC infringements were the product of a deeply ingrained lack of discipline and operational ineptitude. Accuracy and availability may vary. The units location was believed to be a training base for Russian and pro-Russian separatist troops. The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukrainebut not everything. Kadyrov makes it easy, Ratelle said. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. Molfar said it then passes its findings to Ukrainian intelligence, which uses it to plan and execute attacks. (Required). 'Deal not only with them, but also bring to justice their families who may live on the territory of Russia.'. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. By signing up, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to occasionally receive special offers from Foreign Policy. Russia launched two wars to prevent Chechnya, a mostly Muslim province, from gaining independence after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on. UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: (Through interpreter) The tragedies of Ukraine in Bucha and Mariupol are nothing compared to what we experienced growing up. Military What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? If Putin had hoped to weaken NATO, the very opposite has happened, with Finland and Sweden on the cusp of joining the transatlantic military alliance. Thousands of Chechen foot soldiers poured into Ukraine during the very first days of the war, which began on 24 February 2022. They are more alive than the living, he wrote. Washington is right to counter Iran's brutality at home and abroad, but that shouldn't stop it from engaging with an adversary to preserve regional peace. After discovering two other photos posted from the same location by pro-Russian servicemenas well as other corroborating evidence, which was shared with Foreign PolicyMolfar passed its findings onto Ukrainian intelligence. Chechens have been known to be extremely brutal in counterinsurgencynot respecting international law, Ratelle said. Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Youre on the list! Regnum reported that four civilians had been killed in the attack. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Chechen units suffered "hundreds" of casualties while being deployed around Kyiv and were withdrawn to Chechnya on 13 March 2022. But because Russia took everything from me, I have to resist. Trainers include veterans of wars in Chechnya that ended in 2009, some joining up in Ukraine after the fighting against Russia-backed separatists started in Ukraine in 2014. There is now little doubt that Putin failed in his initial goals: Kyiv is still Show morestanding, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (right) has been a close ally of Vladimir Putin, Fanatical pro-war zealot Ramzan Kadyrov (centre) has advocated using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, The kidney illness is said to have accounted for Kadyrov's surprising absence from Putin's state of the nation speech last month. Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Reporting the war for visual media has become very difficult. Please follow our comment guidelines, stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others beliefs. They can only give their bodies. Is the Biden administrations China policy too hawkish? Prince Andrew has 'offered to manage prestigious Royal estates including Balmoral but King Charles has told How to survive a killer asteroid impact: NASA confirms it can deflect a deadly space rock from hitting Earth How the 'cha cha' will do wonders for your bowel and cabbage juice is a miracle cure. As a result, the OSINT industry, valued at $5.1 billion in 2021, is projected to reach $34.9 billion by 2030, according to market research company VMR. Minor details in the report gave the soldiers position away. rs worth well over $400 billion. Starosiek said he was not overly concerned for his personal safety and that most Russian infiltrators had been captured in the first months of the war. By one estimate from Harvard University, more than 130,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or severely wounded, in addition to the deaths of more than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians. At that time, the Kremlin was denying the presence of its forces in Crimea, while the same forces were posting geolocated images of themselves on social media, exposing Moscows lie. Relations between the United States and China seem to be getting frostier by the day. Delivered Friday. 'There is information that the chief nephrologist of the UAE, Dr. Yasin Ibrahim El-Shahat, a well-known doctor with 30 years experience, has arrived in Grozny [the capital of Chechnya],' Maytanov wrote on his Telegram channel. All rights reserved. After years of battling an insurgency, Russian officials declared the conflict in Chechnya over in 2017. In one Russia Today shot, the distinctive right-angled roofline of the Lyubystok kindergarten building could be observed and was identified by Molfar on Google Earth. It explodes next to two old storefront mannequins set up 200 meters (218 yards) away, one with a Russian-style military hat on its head. Either way, Molfars disclosures to FP could be construed as a major OPSEC failing. ", https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-grozny-chechnya-war-russia-b2026978.html, "Boris Johnson: Putin is 'backed into cul-de-sac' and may 'double down to Grozny-fy Kyiv' | ITV News", https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-01/pm-putin-is-backed-into-cul-de-sac-and-may-double-down-to-grozny-fy-kyiv, "Putin's Syria and Chechnya playbooks foretell a grim direction for Ukraine war", https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-and-chechnya-foretell-a-grim-direction-for-ukraine-war/, "Putin May Use Chechen War Playbook In Ukraine, Says Russian Human Rights Activist", https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-invasion-chechen-playbook-putin/31738597.html, "Analysis: Is Russia repeating mistakes of past wars in Ukraine? The RT report included no wide shots of the broader area, but other shots made it clear that the location was flanked by tall residential apartment buildings. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Delivered Thursday. These are the images being broadcast by Russian propaganda channels, leveraging the very presence of Chechen soldiers in Ukraine as a psychological weapon against Ukrainians. "[6], On 3 March, the Times reported that a group of Chechen soldiers had been sent to infiltrate Kyiv with the goal of assassinating Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that the group had been neutralised following leaks from anti-war elements of the Russian Federal Security Service. I dont think much about business at this time, he said. standing, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. Two days later, according to Molfar, explosions and fireworks were observed at the site of Lebedevs selfie, approximately 40 miles behind Russian lines. WebUkraine claims Ramzan Kadyrov's troops killed 3 Russian troops who no longer wanted to fight. And how might that be impacting the world? "[1] The same day, the Russian state media outlet RT published a video of what it described as 12 000 Chechen soldiers gathered in the main square of Grozny, the Chechen capital, preparing to go to war in Ukraine. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Images of those supposed kill teams have circulated for days. Fighters from Chechnya are aiding both sides of the The fanatical What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnyas brutal leader, making a defiant promise to seize Kyiv. Well ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. Washington is right to counter Iran's brutality at home and abroad, but that shouldn't stop it from engaging with an adversary to preserve regional peace. 'Kadyrov is treated in the UAE, and when he is in Grozny for a short time, a nephrologist from Abu Dhabi specially comes to him. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. But it described the risk of civilians being nearby as high due to the residential buildings surrounding the target. Essential analysis of the stories shaping geopolitics on the continent. For its part, Washington has made a series of policy choices over the last few years that can be summed Show moreup as tough on Beijing, even seeking to contain the rise of the worlds second-biggest economy. Beyond the fighters who have arrived north of Kyiv, there are known to be two Chechen battalions stationed in Crimea. A mere 12 miles from the front line, it was within shelling range, but Molfar believed the use of HIMARSHigh Mobility Artillery Rocket Systemswas most likely due to its high level of accuracy. But leaving his home didn't mean giving up on his fight against Russia. Jessica Chen Weiss, formerly a senior advisor for policy planning at the State Department under the Biden administration, makes the case that the United States is becoming consumed by competition with China, a strategy that could lead to dangerous conflict. Starosiek was indignant at the suggestion that he was motivated by self-interest. And this second soldier says their lives as individuals matter little. The United States is taking a more proactive approach to defending its cyberspaceand everyone elses. It is not clear by what means the site was bombarded. Test yourself on the week of Feb. 25: Nigeria votes, Finland builds a border wall, and Israel escalates repression. Muslim Madiev, a veteran fighter of the Chechen conflicts, identified himself as an adviser to the volunteer battalion in Ukraine. Those techniques hadnt been worked out, or hadnt gone mainstream, until about 10 years ago, Bowen said. 1L269 Krasukha-2. That's also why all the Chechens in this piece gave only their first names or no name at all. [The Russians] have their agents here as well. Volunteers have signed up to fight on both sides of the conflict. They told me that two weeks after our seminar, they were already able to find the location of Russian military and hit them, Starosiek said. The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week. Relations between the United States and China seem to be getting frostier by the day. In one shot, below, the distinctive right-angled roofline of the Lyubystok kindergarten building could be observed and was identified by Molfar on Google Earth. Weve seen fighting between Chechens, against Chechens in eastern Ukraine in the last couple of days, he said. Four years later, a peace truce disintegrated. A volunteer soldier holds up a drone used to release explosives at a training area Were going to win this war. What will another year of war look like? One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. Once the location came to Molfars attention, more details soon followed. A Private Company Is Using Social Media to Track Down Russian Soldiers. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. Chechens are fighting in Ukraine. What will another year of war look like? Exiled Chechens opposed to Kadyrov and Putin have seized opportunities in recent years to take the fight to the Kremlin abroad: in Syria, Donetsk, and now in the rest of Ukraine. A volunteer soldier at training outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 27, 2022. The use of OSINT to track down and then target enemy fighters has prompted significant changes to the way operational security (OPSEC) is handled by militaries. Twitter:@Justin_Ling. Soldiers from Chechnya, a Muslim territory, are part of the foreign fight against Russia in Ukraine. Test yourself on the week of Feb. 25: Nigeria votes, Finland builds a border wall, and Israel escalates repression. EMILY FENG, BYLINE: Mansur was 13 when Russian soldiers destroyed his village of Samashki during Chechnya's first war for independence against Russia. Weekly update on whats driving U.S. national security policy. At least 1,360 Chechen residents have volunteered to fight in Ukraine since the start of the war, according to figures cited by the speaker of Chechnyas regional