Putin's Closest Ally, Chechen Leader, Says "Will Send All Three Sons to Ukraine Frontline"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Ramzin Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic and a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced that he intends to send his three underage sons to the Ukrainian battlefield. This is interpreted as a political statement targeting the anti-partial mobilization protests occurring across Russia.

According to Russian TASS news agency on the 3rd (local time), Kadyrov stated on his Telegram account, "My three sons, aged 16, 15, and 14, have been undergoing military training since they were young and are currently learning how to handle weapons at the Russian special forces school training center in Gudermes." He added, "The time has come for my sons to demonstrate their abilities in actual combat, and I welcome their willingness. They will soon be dispatched to the front lines and will remain at the most difficult confrontation fronts."

This is interpreted as a political remark aimed at the anti-mobilization protests and large-scale overseas escapes that have occurred following President Putin's declaration of partial mobilization in Russia. Russia is also a signatory to a UN treaty that prohibits the participation of individuals under 18 in combat, so this is expected to spark controversy within Russia. The International Criminal Court considers the conscription of youths under 15 years old as a war crime.

Kadyrov also raised criticism against the Russian troops retreating under pressure from the Ukrainian forces. He said, "The general in charge of the defense of Lyman failed to properly supply ammunition, military supplies, and communication support," and emphasized, "It is necessary to take more bold measures, such as declaring martial law in border areas and using low-yield nuclear weapons."

Meanwhile, Kadyrov has been the head of the Chechen Republic since 2007 under the protection of the Putin administration, wielding absolute power and sparking human rights abuse controversies as a dictator. When Russia's invasion of Ukraine began last February, he dispatched the Chechen National Guard as the vanguard unit, expressing strong support for President Putin.