In the early hours of December 12, a drone targeted the barracks of a special police regiment in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
The attack was first reported through messages and videos shared on Russian Telegram channels. Later, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov confirmed the incident, according to Astra and Militarnyi.
Kadyrov stated that the drone exploded mid-air above the Akhmat Kadyrov Special Forces Police Regiment building, injuring four fighters with minor wounds.
The explosion occurred at approximately 12:55 a.m. local time and was captured on video by local residents. It caused damage to the building’s roof, shattered windows, and ignited a small fire, which was quickly extinguished.
Kadyrov accused the Ukrainian army of being behind the attack and claimed that Russian air defenses shot down the drone. There is currently no independent confirmation of this claim.
This morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses allegedly intercepted 16 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one in Chechnya and three in neighboring North Ossetia.
This is not the first time the Akhmat Kadyrov Special Forces Police Regiment has been targeted. A previous drone strike hit the barracks on December 4, 2024, at around 4:50 a.m.
The Akhmat Kadyrov Special Forces Police Regiment, established in 2004, is part of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. It specializes in counter-terrorism and special operations within Chechnya.
The unit has also participated in Russia's war against Ukraine.
