Putin Visits Chechnya for First Time in 13 Years

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to Chechnya, marking his first visit to the region since 2011. Welcomed by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in the capital Grozny, Putin visited the grave of the first Chechen leader, Akhmad Kadyrov, before touring the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes.

During the visit, Putin met with Chechen troops and volunteers preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He praised the soldiers’ dedication, stating, “As long as we have soldiers like you, we will always be invincible.” Kadyrov revealed that Chechnya has already sent 47,000 soldiers, including 19,000 volunteers, to Ukraine, with tens of thousands more ready for deployment after training at the university.