Experts talk about the difference Chechen battalions can make in battles and about Wagner’s motives for announcing their withdrawal from the city of “Bakhmut” and handing it over to him.
Trust after Mariupol
According to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, “Ahmad’s Forces”, or what he calls “Ahmad” detachments, and the 5th Mechanized Rifle Brigade are successfully carrying out offensive operations on the axis Marinka’s tactics.
The ministry added that the losses of the Ukrainian army on the Donetsk axis today amount to more than 200 soldiers and 18 equipment.
In turn, Denis Pushilin, Acting President of the Republic of Donetsk, expressed his hope that the Chechen units would succeed in “liberating” the town of Marinka, after having “shown good performance” in the battles of Mariupol, adding: “We are counting on them, and as usual we will cooperate closely,” according to What was reported by “Russia Today” on Thursday.
Earlier, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov announced on “Telegram” that Chechen units had been ordered to redeploy their forces on the Marinka axis as well as in Zaporizhia and Kherson to “liberate a number of towns”. .
Enumeration of Chechen units in Ukraine
Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation and was the first to enter the Ukrainian war on the side of the army, and the “Vostok” battalion played a major role in the fall of Mariupol.
According to Kadyrov, the number of his forces in the battles:
More than 26,000 people and half of the trainers are volunteers. 12,000 volunteers underwent rapid training at the Russian Special Forces University. 7,000 Chechen fighters managed to defend Russia’s interests with battles. The Russian media gave great attention to the Chechen forces. He covered his travels, his training and even his prayers in the forests near Ukraine, saying he had between 10,000 and 70,000 fighters. Chechnya transferred logistical support with about 1,014 units of special equipment, including four-wheeled armored vehicles, night and thermal vision devices and anti-drone aircraft.
Wagner’s alternative?
Earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, commander of “Wagner”, announced his intention to hand over the sites his forces controlled in Bakhmut to Chechen forces between May 25 and early June.
Immediately, Kadyrov replied that Ahmed’s forces were ready to occupy Wagner’s positions there.
In this regard, military expert Brigadier General Elias Hanna told Sky News Arabia that the transition of operations from one military group to another is “a military operation which has its own conditions and is not an easy thing”. Because the forces that seize military sites, if they leave another, must have a perfect knowledge of the place, its terrain and the time.
Regarding the announcement of Wagner’s withdrawal, he said: “It seems to be a Russian military tactic to move from the offensive stage to the defensive position in anticipation of the Ukrainian counterattack.
What Russia is looking for in Chechen forces
In the appreciation of the British writer, Michael Clarke:
Russia is trying to take advantage of the prevailing perception of Chechen fighters that they are comparable to the Russians in terms of tenacity and ferocity, and that they don’t care much about international law, which can change the tide of the war into a street and gang war. Her victories in Mariupol determined the balance of power on the ground, but she is unable to resolve the battle on the ground at a time when Ukraine is also employing foreign mercenaries and paramilitary brigades. Putin, using Chechen forces, wants to show the cohesion of the internal front of the Russian Federation. Prigozhin’s threats of withdrawal are also part of his search for a role in the political arena, and it could come true soon.
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