Russian President Putin encouraged Ukrainian troops to take power back into their own hands. He also shared with them to “not let these Nazis use you as human shields”.
Late last week, the media reported that Chechen fighters were being deployed to Ukraine to fight for Russia.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said Chechen fighters had been deployed in Ukraine, and he urged Ukrainians to overthrow their government.
In a video posted online on Saturday, Kadyrov boasted that Chechen units had so far suffered no losses and said Russian forces could easily take large Ukrainian cities including the capital, Kyiv, but their task was to avoid loss of life.
“As of today, as of this minute, we do not have one single casualty, or wounded, not a single man has even had a runny nose,” Kadyrov said, denying what he said were false reports of casualties from Ukrainian sources.
“The president [Putin] took the right decision and we will carry out his orders under any circumstances,” said Kadyrov.
Kadyrov has often described himself as Putin’s “foot soldier” and his words echoed those of the Russian leader who on Friday urged Ukrainians to rise up against their own government, which he said was made up of “neo-Nazis”. Ukrainian officials say that description of them is absurd.
This came as Russian President Putin called on Ukrainians to not let these Nazis use them as human shields. Sky News reported:
Putin to Ukrainian army: ‘Do not let these Nazis use you as human shields’
Vladimir Putin has appealed directly to Ukrainian troops and told them “it will be easier for us to agree if you take power in your own hands”.
Putin shared this in a presser on Friday.
“to the Ukrainian army men: Do not let these nationalists use you, use your women, use your children, your elderly–to use them as human shields; it would be so much easier to talk & negotiate with you than w/this gang of Nazis who’s captured Kiev”
— Janeway (@elasticaftrnoon) February 25, 2022
The information war continues between Ukraine and Russia.