Support The Moscow Times!

Russia to ‘Accelerate’ Ukraine Campaign, Chechen Leader Claims

Ramzan Kadyrov's Telegram channel

Russian forces will drastically speed up their offensive in Ukraine following an unspecified change of tactics, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Friday as the invasion entered its 100th day.

Kadyrov said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had outlined “new tasks to improve further tactics” on the battlefield during their meeting in Moscow on Thursday.

“The measures will significantly increase the efficiency of offensive maneuvers, which will contribute to the faster conduct of special operations,” the head of Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya wrote on Telegram.

Kadyrov did not specify the changes that have been adopted.

The Defense Ministry did not confirm his claims in its daily briefing.

Kadyrov is a staunch Kremlin ally who has regularly voiced strong support for President Vladimir Putin’s three-month invasion of Ukraine and positioned himself as a hands-on commander of Chechen paramilitaries deployed to Ukrainian hotspots.

Russia shifted its focus toward eastern Ukraine after being repelled from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the invasion's first month. The fiercest fighting now centers around Severodonetsk, one of the last cities in the Lugansk region not under Russian control.

Kadyrov had opposed Russia’s retreat from northern parts of Ukraine, which left behind evidence of potential war crimes.

International NGOs accuse Kadyrov, a former rebel turned Kremlin loyalist, and his forces of serious human rights abuses in his tightly controlled region.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more