Putin's Surprise Visit to Chechnya

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected visit to Chechnya on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the region in nearly 13 years. The visit comes as Ukraine's cross-border incursions into Russia escalate. During his trip, Putin praised local volunteers, asserting that as long as Russia has such men, it will remain "invincible." Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov reported that over 47,000 fighters, including volunteers, have trained at a facility since the onset of what Russia terms its "special military operation" in Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has seen fighters from Chechnya on both sides, with pro-Kyiv volunteers loyal to the late Chechen leader Dzhokhar Dudayev opposing Kadyrov's forces, who support Putin. Kadyrov, who has been involved in significant military actions, including the siege of Mariupol, announced that Chechnya has "tens of thousands" of reservists ready to engage in the conflict, although details regarding their deployment remain unclear. Putin's visit included stops at the grave of Kadyrov's father, a former Chechen leader, and discussions with Kadyrov at his residence in Grozny. The Kremlin's reliance on Chechen fighters has raised concerns about Kadyrov's growing influence, especially following his role in quelling a mutiny led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last year. Meanwhile, international rights groups have criticized Kadyrov's security forces for alleged human rights abuses, with calls for investigations largely ignored by Russian authorities. Prior to his Chechnya visit, Putin met with mothers of victims from the 2004 Beslan school attack, where he condemned Ukraine's actions in the Kursk region, vowing to "punish the criminals" responsible for destabilizing Russia.