The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters The Chechen Kadyrovtsy’s Coercive Violence in Ukraine

This autonomy extends to the Kadyrovtsy, who are primarily loyal to the Kadyrov family, not the Russian state.22 Kadyrov’s Chechnya ranked among the Federation’s poorest provinces and the world’s most repressive and corrupt regimes, far worse than Russia individually.23 Rule of law is extremely limited as policing revolves around Kadyrovtsy torture and reprisals, despite the conflict ’s official e. [...] In June 2000, Akhmad Kadyrov was appointed leader of Chechnya, and his Kadyrovtsy and other collaborator forces then joined the fight against separatists.46 As Russia faced a pronounced lack of human intelligence, Chechen collaborators, including the Kadyrovtsy, served as police and military auxiliaries to the Russian Army. [...] Meakins, “Russians in Chechnya.” Jones 129 already pursue the high-value infrastructure and personnel targets that direct the Russian military.80 Targeting Kadyrovtsy units and commanders in Ukraine and military installations in Chechnya is an actionable extension of this policy. [...] The significant Chechen diaspora, which emerged primarily from the two Chechen Wars, is a source of support and manpower for these efforts.82 However, they generally experience lower living standards typical of other refugees in Western states and live in fear of Kadyrovtsy reprisal violence.83 Eliminating Russian and Kadyrovtsy agents abroad is essential to ensuring the Chechen diaspora’s securit. [...] The views and opinions expressed in Parameters are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the US Army War College, or any other agency of the US government.