Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to Chechnya on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the predominantly Muslim republic within the Russian Federation in nearly 13 years. The visit comes as Ukraine’s unexpected and highly impactful incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast enters its third week, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict.

Putin was received by Chechnya’s strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, upon his arrival. The Russian president’s itinerary included a visit to a special forces academy in Grozny, named after himself, where he met with volunteer fighters training for deployment in Ukraine. During his visit, Putin praised the volunteers, declaring that as long as Russia has men like them, the country would remain “invincible.”

Kadyrov, who has been a key ally of Putin in maintaining stability in the volatile North Caucasus region, claimed on his Telegram channel that over 47,000 fighters, including volunteers, have been trained at the Grozny facility since Moscow launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Chechen fighters have played a significant role in the conflict, with forces loyal to Kadyrov supporting Russian military efforts, while others, loyal to the late Chechen independence leader Dzhokhar Dudayev, have joined the Ukrainian side.

During his visit, Putin also paid respects at the grave of Kadyrov’s father, former Chechen leader Akhmat Kadyrov, and visited a command post and a mosque in Grozny. At the end of the day, Putin held discussions with Kadyrov, who announced that Chechnya has “tens of thousands” of reservists ready to fight against Ukraine, though it was not specified whether any would be sent to reinforce Russian positions in Kursk.

The Kremlin has heavily relied on Kadyrov to maintain control over the North Caucasus, a region that has seen years of conflict and unrest. However, Kadyrov’s forces have been accused by international human rights organizations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and the abduction of dissenters, with Russian authorities repeatedly ignoring calls for investigations.

This unexpected visit comes as the Kremlin faces increasing pressure on multiple fronts. The ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk has rattled Russian authorities, with Putin accusing Kyiv of attempting to destabilize Russia. Earlier on Tuesday, Putin was in Beslan, North Ossetia, where he met with mothers of the victims of the 2004 school siege by Islamic militants, marking his first meeting with them in nearly two decades. During this meeting, he condemned the Ukrainian actions in Kursk, vowing to punish those responsible.

Putin’s visit to Chechnya, particularly at such a critical juncture, underscores the complex dynamics within Russia and the challenges faced by the Kremlin both domestically and in its ongoing war with Ukraine. The visit, which was kept under wraps until the last moment, has fueled speculation about the stability of Putin’s grip on power and the potential for further escalations in the conflict.