Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on Saturday that he has rescinded his previous order to spare captured Ukrainian soldiers, instead instructing his troops to take no prisoners.
Do Not Take Prisoners
This decision follows a recent drone attack on Chechnya that targeted the Russian Special Forces University in the city of Gudermes, according to Digi24.
Speaking to Russian media, Kadyrov declared:
“I have ordered my commanders on the front lines: do not take prisoners. Destroy them and give it everything in battle. This way, they will understand the true strength of Chechen fighters."
This was said according to a translation by Anton Gerashchenko, a former advisor to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Threatens Surrendered Soldiers
Kadyrov, known for his loyalty to Moscow and his involvement in the war against Ukraine, claimed he received over 2,000 letters from Ukrainians pleading for him to rescind this brutal order, although he provided no evidence of these letters.
He further alleged that Chechnya suffered casualties due to the drone strike and that captured Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in retaliation.
However, Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for the attack, nor have they commented on Kadyrov’s statement.
Sources within Ukrainian intelligence speculated to Kyiv Independent that the drone strike may have originated from neighboring Dagestan or Ingushetia, possibly hinting at internal regional disputes rather than direct Ukrainian involvement.
Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has documented over 100 cases where Russian forces have executed Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The Chechen leader’s latest directive, which threatens surrendered soldiers, adds to these alarming reports and has drawn significant international condemnation.
