Kadyrov claims 70,000 fighters sent to war, but Chechens are just 0.2% of Russia's confirmed dead
The Economist reports that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly backs Russia's war against Ukraine while actually shielding most Chechens from combat. Casualty data shows Chechens account for a strikingly small share of confirmed Russian war deaths.
The Economist reports that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov consistently voices support for Russia's war against Ukraine, even though Chechnya's leadership does not actually share Moscow's interests in the conflict. An anonymous source described by the outlet as a well-known Chechen with close ties to the republic's leadership said Kadyrov "understands the situation perfectly well" and has no wish to sacrifice his people for the sake of the "Russian world."
In April, Kadyrov claimed Chechnya had sent more than 70,000 fighters to the front — equivalent to 9% of the republic's male population. Casualty figures tell a different story. According to the latest count of confirmed Russian military deaths compiled by independent outlet Mediazona and the BBC, people from Chechnya make up just 540 of 236,000 confirmed dead, or 0.2%. Chechnya accounts for 1.1% of Russia's overall population — five times its share among the war dead.
A month ago, Kadyrov again claimed Chechen special forces were "burning with desire" to carry out complex combat missions. In reality, fighters from the Akhmat units — nicknamed "TikTok troops" by pro-war Russian bloggers over their heavy social media presence — are often kept far from the front line.
Leadership reportedly condones the practice
According to The Economist, Chechnya's own leadership approves of keeping its fighters away from active combat. A source close to the leadership said the units "appear to be taking part, but have been ordered not to overdo it and to look after themselves."
Kadyrov has so far managed to shield most of Chechnya's population from forced mobilization, instead intensifying repression against vulnerable groups. This approach also reinforces his image as the "father of the nation." When someone must be sent to the front, Kadyrov reportedly selects from groups he personally deems undesirable — gay people, those struggling with alcohol dependency, and relatives of Chechen opposition figures.
