Russia is deploying a Chechen unit to protect Ukraine’s ZNPP, media reports (video)
It is noteworthy that the Chechen units in Enerhodar have almost no contact with Russian soldiers; according to locals, they have never been in the trenches, but the Akhmatists are constantly checking the population, patrolling the city and conducting searches.
Russia has deployed full-fledged military units from Chechnya to protect and constantly put pressure on the local population of Enerhodar and employees of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. This was reported by Al Jazeera.
“All Kadyrov’s men in Enerhodar wear beards, beanies and khaki uniforms without name tags. According to two engineers who fled from Enerhodar, it is Chechen soldiers who patrol and guard the city where the station is located,” the article says.
It is noted that Chechens make up about one fifth of the occupation forces in Enerhodar and they do not mix professionally or socially with other Russian soldiers.
“The Chechens are much better dressed, equipped and armed and look particularly impeccable compared to the Russian-backed separatists from Donetsk and Luhansk, who resemble a ‘herd of bums. Chechens are always on their own, they are the elite, a kind of upper caste. Enerhodar is like a resort for them,” said one of the ZNPP engineers.
According to the newspaper, the privileged position of the Akhmat unit’s military personnel is likely to be related to Ramzan Kadyrov’s high status in the Kremlin.
“Kadyrov’s men are stationed outside of Enerhodar, but they live in much worse conditions – in administrative buildings, tents or trenches. Chechens dominate in Enerhodar. No one saw a single Chechen in the trench,” said one of the engineers.
According to Zaporizhzhia NPP employees, Chechens are constantly present on the streets and roads of Enerhodar. They drive around the city endlessly in Patriots, the Russian four-wheel drive vehicles that have become their trademark.
“Enerhodar will hate these cars for the next 20 years, because every minute and a half, wherever you are, one of these Patriots appears. While patrolling, they check IDs and scrutinize people’s smartphones – allegedly scrolling through bank transactions to check for donations to the Ukrainian armed forces,” said one of the interlocutors.
It is noted that Chechens knock on the doors of every apartment in search of weapons and ask residents about missing neighbors. If the house seems empty, its doors are closed.
During searches, the Kadyrovka pay most attention to citizenship.
“If you have a Russian passport, everything is fine, good work, thank you, goodbye. If you have a Ukrainian passport, you have to turn everything over,” said one of the engineers.
EXCLUSIVE: Russia deploys pro-Kremlin Chechen fighters accused of atrocities to police Ukrainian nuclear town https://t.co/Ig0TLGxgrt pic.twitter.com/X6dFuLIAi0
– Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 9, 2023
